• Thanh N Huynh, S Sam Weigt, Catherine A Sugar, Shelley Shapiro, and Eric C Kleerup.
• Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, BOX 951690, 37-131 CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1690, USA. thuynh@mednet.ucla.edu
• J Crit Care. 2012 Dec 1;27(6):739.e7-13.

PurposePatients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) can decompensate to the point where they require care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Our objective is to examine the outcomes and characteristics of patients with PH admitted to the ICU.MethodsThis is a retrospective study of 99 patients with PH who were admitted to the medical ICU of a single tertiary care center. Baseline characteristics, interventions during ICU admission, and ICU and 6-month outcome were documented. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate association of patient characteristics with mortality.ResultsIntensive care unit mortality was 30%, and 6-month mortality was 40%. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, World Health Organization Group 3 PH, and preexisting treatment with a prostacyclin at time of ICU admission were associated with worse outcome. Patients who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation had 100% mortality. The requirement for mechanical ventilation and dialysis was also associated with increased mortality. Pulmonary artery catheter placement was associated with reduced mortality, specifically if it was placed early during ICU admission and if associated with a change in the present management.ConclusionsMortality is high in critically ill patients with PH. The identification of prognostic baseline characteristics and interventions in the ICU is important and warrants further investigation.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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