Use of inhaled nitric oxide to reduce pulmonary hypertension after heart transplantation

High-flow oxygen therapy and other inhaled therapies in intensive care units

In this Series paper, we review the current evidence for the use of high-flow oxygen therapy, inhaled gases, and aerosols in the care of critically ill patients. The available evidence supports the use of high-flow nasal cannulae for selected patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure. Heliox might prevent intubation or improve gas flow in mechanically ventilated patients with severe asthma. Additionally, it might improve the delivery of aerosolised bronchodilators in obstructive lung disease in general. Inhaled nitric oxide might improve outcomes in a subset of patients with postoperative pulmonary hypertension who had cardiac surgery; however, it has not been shown to provide long-term benefit in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Inhaled prostacyclins, similar to inhaled nitric oxide, are not recommended for routine use in patients with ARDS, but can be used to improve oxygenation in patients who are not adequately stabilised with traditional therapies. Aerosolised bronchodilators are useful in mechanically ventilated patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but are not recommended for those with ARDS. Use of aerosolised antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia and ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis shows promise, but the delivered dose can be highly variable if proper attention is not paid to the delivery method.

The nitric oxide/cGMP signaling pathway in pulmonary hypertension

This article briefly reviews the background of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation, describes the nitric oxide/cGMP/protein kinase pathway and its role in modulating pulmonary vascular tone and remodeling, and describes three approaches that target the nitric oxide/cGMP pathway in the treatment of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide Administration on Early Postoperative Mortality in Patients Operated for Correction of Atrioventricular Canal Defects

OBJECTIVE

Postoperative pulmonary hypertension (POPH) substantially increases mortality after repair of congenital heart diseases. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been reported as an effective and specific means of controlling POPH crisis. No randomized, placebo-controlled study has addressed the ability of NO administration to reduce mortality. Such a trial could raise ethical questions.

DESIGN

Observational study with historical control subjects based on multivariate confounder scores.

SETTING

Surgical pediatric ICU in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Two hundred ninety-four records of patients operated on for atrioventricular (AV) canal between 1984 and 1994 who presented with severe POPH.

INTERVENTIONS

All variables found to be predictive for death by univariate tests were entered in a multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression model. Two paired groups regarding risk factors for death and only differing for POPH treatment (NO or conventional treatment) were constructed on the basis of predicted values obtained from this model. Twenty-five patients received NO, and 39 control patients, operated on between 1984 and 1994, received conventional treatment for POPH.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Postoperative pulmonary pressure, date of operation, and occurrence of an infectious complication were retained in the model. The comparison between the two paired groups showed a significant difference in mortality (24%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7 to 41%; vs 56%; 95% CI, 37 to 75%, respectively; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that there is a high probability for postoperative mortality reduction associated with administration of inhaled NO when severe POPH occurs in children operated for complete repair of AV canal.

Effects of inhaled nitric oxide on right ventricular function in endotoxin shock

Sepsis has been shown to cause right ventricular (RV) dysfunction, which may be related to pulmonary hypertension and increased RV afterload. This study evaluates the effects of inhaled nitric oxide (NO), a selective pulmonary vasodilator, on RV function in a porcine model of endotoxemia. After an infusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 200 micrograms/kg), animals were resuscitated with saline (1 mL/kg/min) and observed for 3 hours while being mechanically ventilated (Fio2 = 0.6, tidal volume = 12 mL/kg, and peak end-expiratory pressure = 5 cm H2O). The LPS group (n = 5) received no additional treatment. The NO group (n = 5) received inhaled NO (40 ppm) for the last 2 hours. The control group (n = 5) received only saline without LPS. Hemodynamic data and blood gases were collected hourly for 3 hours. LPS resulted in pulmonary hypertension and RV dysfunction as indexed by a decreased RV ejection fraction and increased RV end-diastolic volume. Inhaled NO significantly decreased pulmonary hypertension and significantly increased RV ejection fraction and oxygen delivery without adverse effects. In conclusion, inhaled NO significantly improved pulmonary hypertension and RV dysfunction in a porcine model of endotoxemia and should be a useful therapeutic modality in selected septic patients.