title: Effects of sildenafil on prognosis in patients with pulmonary hypertension after left-sided valvular surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sildenafil (Viagra, Pfizer) is being used to treat pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, there are limited data on the effects of sildenafil on patients with PH after left-sided valvular surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal dosage and the effects of sildenafil on prognosis of patients with PH after left-sided valvular surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomised controlled trial, double-blind study enrolled patients with PH undergoing left-sided valvular surgery in our hospital from January to December, 2010. Ninety patients were enrolled. And 0.5 mg/kg sildenafil citrate or placebo was administered through nasogastric tubes, the haemodynamics changes in the 0.5/1/2/4 hours were assessed. The sildenafil citrate/placebo was continued to the discharges and the early prognoses of these patients were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo, a 0.5 mg/kg dose of sildenafil significantly reduced the time of mechanical ventilation, stay-in-ICU and hospitalisation duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sildenafil might be beneficial to the early prognosis of patients with PH after left-sided valvular surgery.
authors.forename: Gengxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Bailing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Guanxin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Enhong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiyun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
keywords: Haemodynamic; Postoperative period; Pulmonary artery hypertension; Sildenafil citrate; Valvular heart disease