title: Inhaled nitric oxide versus intravenous vasodilators in severe pulmonary hypertension after cardiac surgery.
abstract: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is superior to i.v. vasodilators for treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) after cardiac surgery, but iNO is a potentially toxic gas, and patient subsets who benefit from iNO are not yet clearly defined. We administered iNO 40 ppm, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) 0.1 microg x kg(-1) min(-1), and nitroglycerin (NTG) 3 to 5 microg x kg(-1) min(-1), in a randomized crossover study to 14 adult patients with severe PH after cardiac surgery. iNO, PGE1, and NTG were of similar efficacy in reducing pulmonary vascular resistance (P = 0.003). iNO induced selective pulmonary vasodilation, while PGE1 and NTG had significant concomitant systemic vasodilatory effects. iNO led to an increase in cardiac index (CI) (P = 0.012), and PGE1 increased CI (P = 0.006) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (P = 0.015), while NTG had no effect on CI and RV performance. After study completion, patients continued with PGE1 administration with favorable in-hospital outcome. We conclude that PH per se, even if severe, does not necessarily imply postoperative RV dysfunction, and selective pulmonary vasodilation with iNO may not be superior to PGE1 with regard to CI and RV performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a prospective, randomized crossover study of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) versus IV vasodilators, performed in adult patients with severe pulmonary hypertension but preserved right ventricular function after cardiac surgery, iNO was not superior to IV prostaglandin E1 with regard to cardiac index and right ventricular performance. Considering the potential toxicity of iNO, better definition of patient subsets with a positive benefit/risk ratio is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesia, Institute of Anesthesiology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. edith.schmid@ifa.usz.ch
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bürki
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schmidlin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tornic
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seifert
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000527:Alprostadil; D005996:Nitroglycerin