Inhaled Nitric Oxide Selectively Decreases Pulmonary Vascular Resistance without Impairing Oxygenation during One-lung Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

This study demonstrates that 20 ppm inhaled NO is a selective pulmonary vasodilator in patients with moderate pulmonary hypertension secondary to cardiac disease who are undergoing one-lung ventilation. In contrast to what would be expected with intravenous vasodilators that inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, inhaled NO does not increase the venous admixture or impair oxygenation.