Inhaled Nitric Oxide Selectively Decreases Pulmonary Artery Pressure and Pulmonary Vascular Resistance Following Acute Massive Pulmonary Microembolism in Piglets

¹ From the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Heidelberg, Germany
² From the Department of Urology, University of Heidelberg, Germany

Acute massive pulmonary embolism increases pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), which may lead to early right ventricular failure and subsequent cardiocirculatory deterioration. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) selectively dilates pulmonary vessels in vivo. Thus, inhaled NO may be useful in preventing cardiocirculatory deterioration following pulmonary embolism. We investigated the effects of inhaled NO in the acute phase of massive pulmonary microembolism in 10 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated piglets (body weight, 18±2 kg). Microspheres of 300-µm diameter were injected IV in an amount sufficient to initially increase mean PAP to 45 mm Hg. Forty-five minutes after pulmonary embolization, the pretreatment control values were recorded. Thereafter, the piglets inhaled 40 ppm NO, and subsequently 80 ppm NO. When 40 ppm NO was inhaled, there was a significant decrease in systolic PAP (10.3%; 44.5±2.2 to 39.9±2.4 mm Hg; p<0.05) and mean PAP (9.4%; 32.9±1.3 to 29.8±1.3 mm Hg; p< 0.05). PVR was changed by 13.6% (p=0.07). Administration of 80 ppm NO resulted in a significant decrease in systolic PAP (12.6%; to 38.9±1.9 mm Hg; p< 0.05), mean PAP (11.9%; to 29.0±1.4 mm Hg; p<0.05), and PVR (19.4%; p< 0.05) compared with pretreatment values. Discontinuation of NO inhalation was associated with an immediate return to pretreatment values. Systemic hemodynamics and the arterial and mixed venous oxygen concentrations remained unchanged. We conclude that inhaled NO following acute massive pulmonary microembolism selectively decreases PAP and PVR without influencing systemic hemodynamics in piglets.

Key Words: nitric oxide inhalation • pulmonary arterial hypertension • pulmonary embolism

Submitted on June 16, 1995
Accepted on May 10, 1996

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