Biomaterial Database

Inhaled nitric oxide lowers pulmonary capillary pressure and changes longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance in patients with acute lung injury. 1994

A Benzing, and K Geiger

Clinic of Anaesthesiology, University of Freiburg, FRG.

In acute lung injury (ALI), where pulmonary microvascular permeability is increased, transvascular fluid filtration depends mainly on the hydrostatic capillary pressure. In the presence of intrapulmonary vasoconstriction pulmonary capillary pressure (PCP) may increase thereby promoting transvascular fluid filtration and lung oedema formation. We studied the effect of 40 ppm inhaled nitric oxide (NO) on PCP and longitudinal distribution of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in 18 patients with ALI. PCP was estimated by visual analysis of the pressure decay profile following pulmonary artery balloon inflation. Contribution of venous pulmonary resistance to total PVR was calculated as the percentage of the pressure gradient in the pulmonary venous system to the total pressure gradient across the lung. Inhalation of 40 ppm NO produced a prompt decrease in mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) from 34.1 +/- 6.8 to 29.6 +/- 5.7 (s.d.) mmHg; (P < 0.0001). PCP declined from 24.8 +/- 6.2 to 21.6 +/- 5.2 mmHg; (P < 0.0001) while pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) did not change. PVR decreased from 166 +/- 73 to 128 +/- 50 dyn.sec.cm-5; (P < 0.0001). Pulmonary venous resistance (PVRven) decreased to a greater extent (from 76 +/- 41 to 50 +/- 28 dyn.sec.cm-5; (P < 0.001) than pulmonary arterial resistance (PVRart) (from 90 +/- 36 to 79 +/- 29 dyn.sec.cm-5; (P < 0.01). The contribution of PVRven to PVR fell from 44.3 +/- 10.8 to 37.8 +/- 11.9%; (P < 0.01). Cardiac output (CO) remained constant. The findings demonstrate that NO has a predominant vasodilating effect on pulmonary venous vasculature thereby lowering PCP in patients with ALI.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009569	Nitric Oxide	A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.	Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D011651	Pulmonary Artery	The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs.	Arteries, Pulmonary,Artery, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Arteries
D011669	Pulmonary Wedge Pressure	The blood pressure as recorded after wedging a CATHETER in a small PULMONARY ARTERY; believed to reflect the PRESSURE in the pulmonary CAPILLARIES.	Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure,Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure,Pulmonary Venous Wedge Pressure,Wedge Pressure,Pressure, Pulmonary Wedge,Pressures, Pulmonary Wedge,Pulmonary Wedge Pressures,Wedge Pressure, Pulmonary,Wedge Pressures, Pulmonary,Pressure, Wedge,Pressures, Wedge,Wedge Pressures
D012121	Respiration, Artificial	Any method of artificial breathing that employs mechanical or non-mechanical means to force the air into and out of the lungs. Artificial respiration or ventilation is used in individuals who have stopped breathing or have RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY to increase their intake of oxygen (O2) and excretion of carbon dioxide (CO2).	Ventilation, Mechanical,Mechanical Ventilation,Artificial Respiration,Artificial Respirations,Mechanical Ventilations,Respirations, Artificial,Ventilations, Mechanical
D012128	Respiratory Distress Syndrome	A syndrome characterized by progressive life-threatening RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY in the absence of known LUNG DISEASES, usually following a systemic insult such as surgery or major TRAUMA.	ARDS, Human,Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Pediatric Respiratory Distress Syndrome,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Acute,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult,Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pediatric,Shock Lung,Distress Syndrome, Respiratory,Distress Syndromes, Respiratory,Human ARDS,Lung, Shock,Respiratory Distress Syndromes,Syndrome, Respiratory Distress
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D002302	Cardiac Output	The volume of BLOOD passing through the HEART per unit of time. It is usually expressed as liters (volume) per minute so as not to be confused with STROKE VOLUME (volume per beat).	Cardiac Outputs,Output, Cardiac,Outputs, Cardiac
D005260	Female		Females