Inhaled nitric oxide for acute right-ventricular dysfunction after extrapleural pneumonectomy

Respiratory Care. 2006 Oct;51(10):1172-6. [Full Text]

Fernandez-Perez ER,
Keegan MT,
Harrison BA.

Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55095, USA.

Abstract

Increased pulmonary vascular pressure and decreased right-ventricular performance may occur following pneumonectomy. Inhaled nitric oxide decreases right-ventricular afterload and improves cardiac index by selectively decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance without causing systemic hypotension. We report the use of inhaled nitric oxide in a patient with acute right-ventricular dysfunction after extrapleural pneumonectomy.