Inhaled nitric oxide is not a negative inotropic agent in a porcine model of pulmonary hypertension

D. J. Goldstein, D. A. Dean, A. Smerling, M. C. Oz, D. Burkhoff, M. L. Dickstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Reports of pulmonary edema complicating inhaled nitric oxide therapy in patients with chronic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension have raised the concern that inhaled nitric oxide may have negative inotropic effects. Methods and results: We investigated the effect of multiple doses of inhaled nitric oxide (20, 40 and 80 ppm) on left ventricular contractile state in 10 open-chest pigs. Pressure-volume loops were generated during transient preload reduction to determine the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship and the stroke work-end-diastolic volume relation. Inhaled nitric oxide had no effect on systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, end-systolic pressure-volume relationship or stroke work-end-diastolic volume relation under normal conditions. After induction of pulmonary hypertension (intravenous thromboxane A2 analog), inhalation of nitric oxide (80 ppm) resulted in a reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance (mean ± standard error of the mean) from 10.4 ± 3 to 6.5 ± 2 Wood units (p < 0.001) and in pulmonary artery pressure from 44 ± 4 to 33 ± 4 mm Hg (p < 0.05). Left ventricular end-diastolic volume rose from 53 ± 9 ml to 57 ± 10 ml (p = 0.02). No statistically significant change in cardiac output or systemic vascular resistance was observed. Inhaled nitric oxide had no effect on end- systolic pressure-volume relationship or stroke work-end-diastolic volume relation. Conclusions: In a porcine model of pulmonary hypertension, inhaled nitric oxide does not impair left ventricular contractile function. Therefore the cause of pulmonary edema observed in some patients receiving inhaled nitric oxide is not due to a negative inotropic action of this therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)461-466
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Volume114
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Inhaled nitric oxide is not a negative inotropic agent in a porcine model of pulmonary hypertension'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this