The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 32, 563-570, Copyright © 1981 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Comparison of effects of prostaglandin E1 and nitroprusside on pulmonary vascular resistance in children after open-heart surgery
LJ Rubis, LW Stephenson, MR Johnston, S Nagaraj and LH Edmunds Jr
Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is a vasodilator. Because the drug is metabolized
by lung, we postulated a selective effect on pulmonary vasculature.
Twenty-six patients aged 3 months to 16 year (mean, 6.5 years) were studied
after repair of atrial septal defect (5), ventricular septal defect (10),
tetralogy of Fallot (3), and other lesions (8). Fourteen patients also
received nitroprusside. PGE1 (0.1 to 1.0 micrograms/kg/min) or
nitroprusside (0.59 to 8.7 micrograms/kg/min) was infused through a central
venous catheter until mean pulmonary or mean systemic arteria pressure
decreases at least 10%. Prostaglandin E1 and nitroprusside both decreased
mean systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance (P less
than 0.05). Although both drugs caused an average decrease in pulmonary
arterial pressure and resistance, nitroprusside produced a more consistent
response. Side-effects limited the use of PGE1 in 5 patients. PGE1 is an
effective vasodilator and has advantages for some patients, but it does not
produce selective vasodilation of pulmonary vessels.