• M Wysocki, C Delclaux, E Roupie, O Langeron, N Liu, B Herman, F Lemaire, and L Brochard.
• Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Hôpital International de l'Université de Paris, France.
• Intensive Care Med. 1994 Jan 1; 20 (4): 254-9.

ObjectiveTo assess the additive effect of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) and intravenous almitrine bismesylate (ALM) on gas exchange.DesignProspective self-controlled study.Setting3 medico-surgical intensive care units.Patients17 patients with severe hypoxemia (PaO2/FIO2 ratio: 88 +/- 30 mmHg, venous admixture: 47 +/- 7%) and elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP: 30 +/- 5 mmHg) due to adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Interventions5 conditions were studied: 1) baseline, 2) 5 to 10 ppm of NO during 30 min, 3) discontinuation of NO during 30 min, 4) ALM infusion (0.5 mg/kg) during 30 min, 5) ALM infusion (0.5 mg/kg) during 30 min in combination with 5 to 10 ppm of NO.Measurement And ResultsThe PaO2/FIO2 ratio rose from 88 +/- 30 to 98 +/- 37 mmHg (NS) with NO alone, and from 92 +/- 25 to 130 +/- 56 mmHg (p < 0.01) with NO + ALM (p < 0.05 vs NO alone). Seven patients were considered as "NO-responders" (rise in PaO2/FIO2 ratio of 10 mmHg or more with NO); in this subgroup the PaO2/FIO2 ratio rose from 87 +/- 30 to 128 +/- 39 mmHg (p < 0.05) with NO alone, and from 93 +/- 20 to 169 +/- 51 mmHg (p < 0.01) with NO + ALM (p < 0.05 versus NO alone). MPAP decreased from 30 +/- 5 to 26 +/- 5 mmHg (p < 0.01) with NO alone, increased slightly from 28 +/- 5 to 31 +/- 5 mmHg (NS) with ALM alone and decreased to 27 +/- 5 mmHg (p < 0.05) with NO + ALM.ConclusionsNO + ALM had additive effects on gas exchange while decreasing MPAP in patients with ARDS. The effects of NO alone were small and non significant, except in a subgroup of 7 patients in whom the combination of both therapies had the more pronounced results.

25 keywords...

hide…