Inhaled Levosimendan for Pulmonary Hypertension Treatment During Cardiac Surgery: A Novel Application to Avoid Systemic Hypotension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) is common in cardiac surgery patients, and management of this condition is challenging.1 –3 Although nonselective pulmonary vasodilators provide effective reduction in pulmonary artery pressures, they also reduce systemic vascular resistance and may negatively affect vital organ perfusion.2 For these reasons, there is growing interest in administering nonselective pulmonary vasodilato rs such as milrinone directly into the pulmonary vasculature by inhalation, to avoid hypotensive complications.

Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - January 3, 2019 Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Amir Elhassan, Michael Essandoh Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research