treatment of pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomized,prospective, double-bind study.

Objective Pulmonary hypertension can already be present in patients undergoing cardiac surgery or can be exacerbated by cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative treatment is still a challenge for physicians. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of inhaled prostacyclin (iPGI(2)) and nitric oxide (iNO) compared with those of intravenous vasodilators. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind study included 58 patients affected by severe mitral valve stenosis and pulmonary hypertension with high pulmonary vascular resistance (> 250 dynes.s.cm(-5)) and a mean pulmonary artery pressure > 25 mmHg. All patients were monitored by central venous, radial arterial and Swan-Ganz cath…