Inhaled nitric oxide improves hepatic tissue oxygenation in right ventricular failure: value of hepatic venous oxygen saturation monitoring

Nitric oxide: To be or not to be an endocrine hormone?

Nitric oxide (NO), a highly reactive gasotransmitter, is critical for a number of cellular processes and has multiple biological functions. Due to its limited lifetime and diffusion distance, NO has been mainly believed to act in autocrine/paracrine fashion. The increasingly recognized effects of pharmacologically delivered and endogenous NO at a distant site have changed the conventional wisdom and introduced NO as an endocrine signalling molecule. The notion is greatly supported by the detection of a number of NO adducts and their circulatory cycles, which in turn contribute to the transport and delivery of NO bioactivity, remote from the sites of its synthesis. The existence of endocrine sites of synthesis, negative feedback regulation of biosynthesis, integrated storage and transport systems, having an exclusive receptor, that is, soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), and organized circadian rhythmicity make NO something beyond a simple autocrine/paracrine signalling molecule that could qualify for being an endocrine signalling molecule. Here, we discuss hormonal features of NO from the classical endocrine point of view and review available knowledge supporting NO as a true endocrine hormone. This new insight can provide a new framework within which to reinterpret NO biology and its clinical applications.

Extrapulmonary effects of inhaled nitric oxide: role of reversible S-nitrosylation of erythrocytic hemoglobin

Early applications of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), typically in the treatment of diseases marked by acute pulmonary hypertension, were met by great enthusiasm regarding the purported specificity of iNO: vasodilation by iNO was specific to the lung (without a change in systemic vascular resistance), and within the lung, NO activity was said to be confined spatially and temporally by Hb within the vascular lumen. Underlying these claims were classical views of NO as a short-lived paracrine hormone that acts largely through the heme groups of soluble guanylate cyclase, and whose potential activity is terminated on encountering the hemes of red blood cell (RBC) Hb. These classical views are yielding to a broader paradigm, in which NO-related signaling is achieved through redox-related NO adducts that endow NO synthase products with the ability to act at a distance in space and time from NO synthase itself. Evidence supporting the biological importance of such stable NO adducts is probably strongest for S-nitrosothiols (SNOs), in which NO binds to critical cysteine residues in proteins or peptides. The circulating RBC is a major SNO reservoir, and RBC Hb releases SNO-related bioactivity peripherally on O2 desaturation. These new paradigms describing NO transport also provide a plausible mechanistic understanding of the increasingly recognized peripheral effects of inhaled NO. An explanation for the peripheral actions of inhaled NO is discussed here, and the rationale and results of attempts to exploit the "NO delivery" function of the RBC are reviewed.

Acute right ventricular failure--from pathophysiology to new treatments

The right ventricle (RV) provides sustained low-pressure perfusion of the pulmonary vasculature, but is sensitive to changes in loading conditions and intrinsic contractility. Factors that affect right ventricular preload, afterload or left ventricular function can adversely influence the functioning of the RV, causing ischaemia and right ventricular failure (RVF). As RVF progresses, a pronounced tricuspid regurgitation further decreases cardiac output and worsens organ congestion. This can degenerate into an irreversible vicious cycle. The effective diagnosis of RVF is optimally performed by a combination of techniques including echocardiography and catheterisation, which can also be used to monitor treatment efficacy. Treatment of RVF focuses on alleviating congestion, improving right ventricular contractility and right coronary artery perfusion and reducing right ventricular afterload. As part of the treatment, inhaled nitric oxide or prostacyclin effectively reduces afterload by vasodilating the pulmonary vasculature. Traditional positive inotropic drugs enhance contractility by increasing the intracellular calcium concentration and oxygen consumption of cardiac myocytes, while vasopressors such as norepinephrine increase arterial blood pressure, which improves cardiac perfusion but increases afterload. A new treatment, the calcium sensitiser, levosimendan, increases cardiac contractility without increasing myocardial oxygen demand, while preserving myocardial relaxation. Furthermore, it increases coronary perfusion and decreases afterload. Conversely, traditional treatments of circulatory failure, such as mechanical ventilation and volume loading, could be harmful in the case of RVF. This review outlines the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of RVF, illustrated with clinical case studies.

Inhaled nitric oxide and acute lung injury

The nitric oxide (NO) field has been one of the most exciting scientific ventures over the past 10 years. Among the researches developed, the use of inhalation of NO gas allowed us to propose this therapy in lung diseases with promising results. Because of its property as a "selective" pulmonary vasodilator and because of its apparent clinical safety, inhaled NO has been proposed in acute lung injury (ALI) to improve severe hypoxemia. In this situation, the abnormal ventilation-perfusion ratio is improved by inhaled NO, limiting arterial hypoxia. The major clinical trials performed in adults, however, have failed to show any benefit on mortality and on mechanical ventilation requirements. Inhaled NO has been shown as an efficient therapy in pediatric ALI, probably because of a lower comorbidity. Because of the inhaled NO uptake by the lung, the extra vascular lung effects might be in the future the most important development in relation with platelet anti-agregant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Inhaled nitric oxide fraction is influenced by both the site and the mode of administration

OBJECTIVE

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) can be delivered continuously or sequentially (= during inspiration) at different locations of the ventilation circuit. We have tested the influence of locations, modes of NO administration and the ratio of the inspiratory time over the respiratory cycle time (I/I + E ratio) on the accuracy of NO fractions, delivered by 2 devices: Opti-NO and Flowmeter.

METHODS

We used a simplified lung model consisting of a ventilation circuit with a Y piece, a tracheal tube, a 150 ml dead-space volume and a 5 liter balloon. Three fractions (3, 6, 9 ppm) were administered continuously or sequentially, in controlled volume, in 4 different sites on the inspiratory branch above the Y piece: i) just after the water trap, ii) just before the Y piece; below the Y piece: iii) just after the Y piece, iv) into the endotracheal tube. In addition, different I/I + E ratios (25, 33, 50, 80%) were studied. The delivered NO fractions were measured in the balloon by chemiluminescence (CLD 700, Ecophysics). A linear regression analysis was used to test the relationship between administered and measured NO fractions for the 3 fractions (3, 6 and 9 ppm) in sequential and continuous modes. Intercept values were compared to zero and slopes to the identity line.

RESULTS

When NO was administered in the continuous mode upstream the Y piece, NO fractions measured in the balloon corresponded to the administered fractions. In contrast, below the Y piece, the measured NO fractions were significantly lower than the administered NO fractions. In the sequential mode, above and below the Y piece, the delivered NO fractions were within the manufacturer's range.

CONCLUSIONS

For the continuous NO delivery, locations above the Y piece are mandatory. However, locations below the Y piece imposes a sequential system, which can also be used for the sites located above the Y piece.

[Inhaled nitric oxide in anesthesia and intensive care]

The role of endothelium in vascular relaxation is linked to the existence of endothelium derived relaxing factors (EDRF) known since 1980. In 1987, nitric oxide (NO) was identified as one of these factors. NO acts in many physiologic and pathophysiologic events. Atmospheric NO is a pollutant. Inhaled NO allows selective pulmonary vasodilation and is used to treat pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH). As inhaled NO is inactivated immediately in the blood by linking to haemoglobin, systemic vasodilation does not occur and right ventricular coronary perfusion pressure does not decrease. This is particularly important in the treatment of right ventricular failure due to PAH following cardiothoracic surgery. In patients with an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), inhaled NO improves the perfusion of adequately ventilated pulmonary territories. Very low concentrations of NO, such as two parts per million, decrease intrapulmonary venous admixture and may reverse hypoxaemia. However its long term benefits in ARDS must be assessed more accurately with multicentre controlled studies. Inhaled NO also improves refractory hypoxaemia in neonates. Its bronchodilatory effect, demonstrated experimentally, does not occur in acute obstructive bronchopulmonatory disease. The toxicity of NO, and overall of its oxidated derivative NO2 requires precise conditions of administration and close monitoring of inhaled fractions. In that case, the risk of NO toxicity seems very low when compared to its therapeutic benefits in selected patients.

Hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation predicts regenerative status of remnant liver after partial hepatectomy in rats

This study was designed to evaluate the use of hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation (ShVO2) as an indicator of hepatic oxygen supply-demand relation and also regenerative status of the liver after partial hepatectomy in rats. We assessed the ShVO2 levels for 7 days, as well as hepatic hemodynamics, oxygen consumption, DNA synthesis and energy charge of the remnant liver for 3 days after 50% hepatectomy or sham operation. Total hepatic oxygen consumption (HVO2) per liver weight, hepatic oxygen extraction ratio (HO2ER), and DNA synthesis were significantly elevated at days 1 and 3 after hepatectomy, compared with the preoperative levels. Meanwhile, significantly decreased ShVO2 levels were observed at days 1 and 3, and the ShVO2 levels were significantly correlated with the HVO2. Furthermore, the decreased ShVO2 levels were synchronized with the increased DNA synthesis in the remnant liver. Energy charge levels were also significantly decreased at day 1 after hepatectomy. These results suggest that the regenerating liver demands an increased amount of oxygen for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to restore hepatic energy charge. In conclusion, the ShVO2 after hepatectomy may reflect oxygen metabolic status in the remnant liver and could be useful for estimating liver regeneration.

Continuous jugular bulb venous oxygen saturation validation and variations during intracranial aneurysm surgery

PURPOSE

During intracranial aneurysm surgery, numerous factors may alter cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply-demand balance. Continuous monitoring of jugular bulb venous oxygen saturation (SvjO2) may help in the anesthetic management of such procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fiberoptic SvjO2 was continuously monitored in seven patients during intracranial aneurysm surgery. Fiberoptic SvjO2 measurement was compared with IL3 CO-OXIMETER determination from 85 paired samples. The occurrence of large SvjO2 variations (SvjO2 variation reaching 10% or more of stable preceding value) during aneurysm surgery was recorded and classified according to the association or not with systemic clinical or therapeutic changes.

RESULTS

Fiberoptic SvjO2 showed a limited accuracy, with limits of agreement with IL3 CO-OXIMETER at -16.8% and +10.7% and a small bias (-3.1%). SvjO2 variations were frequent during aneurysm surgery, ranging from 3 to 22 per patient during procedures lasting 6 hours (range 4.5 to 7). Half of these variations occurred in the absence of any systemic clinical or therapeutic change, most often leading to an increased SvjO2.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the accuracy of fiberoptic SvjO2 determination is limited, it allows the detection of cerebral blood flow and oxygen supply-demand imbalance during aneurysm surgery. The frequent occurrence of SvjO2 elevations is suggestive of reactive hyperemia mechanisms.

Aerosolized prostacyclin and inhaled nitric oxide in septic shock--different effects on splanchnic oxygenation?

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effects of inhaled nitric oxide and aerosolized prostacyclin (PGI2) on hemodynamics and gas exchange as well as on the indocyanine-green plasma disappearance rate and gastric intramucosal pH in patients with septic shock.

DESIGN

Prospective, randomized, interventional clinical study.

SETTING

Intensive care unit in a university hospital.

PATIENTS

Sixteen patients with pulmonary hypertension and septic shock according to the criteria of the ACCP/SCCM consensus conference all requiring norepinephrine and/or epinephrine to maintain mean arterial blood pressure above 65 mmHg.

METHODS AND INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either nitric oxide or aerosolized prostacyclin. Nitric oxide was inhaled using a commercially available delivery system, prostacyclin was administered with a modified ultrasound nebulizer. Both nitric oxide and prostacyclin were incrementally adjusted to obtain a 15% decrease of mean pulmonary artery pressure. Hemodynamics and gas exchange as well as indocyanine-green plasma disappearance rate and gastric intramucosal pH were determined at baseline after 90 min in steady state, after 90 min of nitric oxide inhalation or prostacyclin aerosol administration had elapsed in stable conditions, and after 90 min in stable conditions after nitric oxide or prostacyclin withdrawal.

RESULTS

Both inhaled nitric oxide and aerosolized prostacyclin selectively reduced the mean pulmonary artery pressure from 35 +/- 4, 30 +/- 4 mmHg (p < 0.05) and 34 +/- 4 to 30 +/- 3 mmHg (p < 0.05) respectively; after removal of nitric oxide and prostacyclin, the mean pulmonary artery pressure returned to the baseline values. Systemic hemodynamics remained unaltered during the vasodilator treatment. While the mean PaO2 was not significantly influenced, it increased in 4/8 of the NO- and 3/8 of the PGI2-treated patients. Neither of the drugs influenced indocyanine-green plasma disappearance rate, but prostacyclin--unlike nitric oxide--significantly increased gastric intramucosal pH (from 7.26 +/- 0.07 to 7.30 +/- 0.05, p < 0.05) which remained elevated in four of these patients after prostacyclin removal, and decreased the arterial-gastric mucosal pressure of carbon dioxide gap from 19 +/- 6 to 15 +/- 4 mmHg (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that aerosolized prostacyclin--unlike nitric oxide--has similar beneficial effects on splanchnic perfusion and oxygenation as intravenous prostacyclin without detrimental effects on systemic hemodynamics. The different effects of prostacyclin and nitric oxide might be explained by the longer half-life of prostacyclin associated with a certain spillover into the systemic circulation.