Journal of investigative surgery : the official journal of the Academy of Surgical Research
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Pulmonary hypertension is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in adult cardiac surgery patients. Inhaled nitric oxide is known to be a selective pulmonary vasodilator in this setting. However, it is not known which cardiac surgery patients benefit most from nitric oxide therapy. ⋯ Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, peripheral vascular resistance, cardiac index, and right ventricular ejection fraction were monitored throughout the operative experience. Patients with a higher initial pulmonary vascular resistance had a significantly greater percent reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance after the initiation of nitric oxide therapy. This study suggests that pulmonary vascular resistance is more dramatically affected by inhaled nitric oxide in cardiac surgery patients with a greater degree of pulmonary hypertension.