Randomized controlled study of inhaled nitric oxide after operation for congenital heart disease.
BACKGROUND
Inhaled nitric oxide selectively decreases pulmonary vascular resistance. This study was performed to determine whether inhaled nitric oxide decreases the incidence of pulmonary hypertensive crises after corrective procedures for congenital heart disease.


METHODS
Patients with a systolic pulmonary arterial pressure of 50% or more of the systolic systemic arterial pressure during the early postoperative period were randomized to receive 20 parts per million inhaled nitric oxide (n = 20) or conventional therapy alone (n = 20). Acute hemodynamic and blood gas measurements were performed at the onset of therapy. The efficacy of sustained therapy was determined by comparing the number of patients in each group who experienced a pulmonary hypertensive crisis.


RESULTS
In comparison to controls, there were no significant differences in the baseline and 1-hour measurements of patients who were treated with nitric oxide. Four patients in the control group and 3 patients in the nitric oxide group experienced a pulmonary hypertensive crisis.


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide did not substantially improve pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange immediately after operation for congenital heart disease. Nitric oxide also failed to significantly decrease the incidence of pulmonary hypertensive crises.
Day
R W
RW
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Utah and Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City 84113, USA. ron.day@hsc.utah.edu
Hawkins
J A
JA
McGough
E C
EC
Crezeé
K L
KL
Orsmond
G S
GS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide