title: A comparison of the acute hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitroglycerin and iloprost in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing mitral valve surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) affects the prognosis of the patients, it is important to manage and evaluate PHT. The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitroglycerin and iloprost during early postoperative period, in patients with PHT undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred patients with PHT (mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) >25 mmHg at rest), were randomized to receive either inhalation of nitroglycerin (group I; n=50) or iloprost (group II; n=50) in the postoperative period. In both groups, baseline hemodynamic parameters were recorded before the treatment (T(0)). Then, patients in group I received 20 microg.kg(-1) nitroglycerin and those in group II received 2.5 microg.kg(-1) iloprost. The same parameters were recorded immediately after the end of the treatment (T(1)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both study groups MPAP and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were found to be significantly lower at T(1) when compared to that of T(0) period (p<0.05). MPAP and PVR were significantly lower and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly higher in group II when compared to group I at T(1) period (p<0.05). In addition to decreases in PVR and MPAP, iloprost also increased cardiac output (CO)(4.9+/-1.3 vs 5.1+/-0.9, p<0.05) and stroke volume (SV)(48+/-13 vs 56+/-13, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inhaled iloprost and nitroglycerin, both effectively reduce MPAP and PVR without affecting MAP, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and CO. However, iloprost seems to be a more powerful pulmonary vasodilator, therefore we suggest iloprost inhalation in patients with severe PHT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Dr. Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurgul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yurtseven
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.forename: Gunseli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ozkul
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cimen
authors.forename: Abdullah Kemal
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tuygun
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yuksek
authors.forename: Sevim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Canik
mesh_terms: D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D016285:Iloprost