Inhaled Nitric Oxide and Inhaled Prostacyclin After Cardiac Surgery for Heart Transplant or LVAD Placement

Summary

Research study evaluating the individual and combined effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) and inhaled prostacyclin (iPGI2), on the function of the right heart after surgery for either heart transplant or for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) placement. The investigators hope to learn if these two medications, when given together after surgery, improve right heart function by lowering blood vessel pressures in the lungs. The investigators hope to learn if the combined effects of these two medications are better than either medication used alone. Participants were selected as a possible participant in this study because right heart problems are common during and after surgery for heart transplant and for LVAD placement. In addition, iNO is always given during and after these two types of surgeries at Stanford to help improve how the right heart functions.

Timeline

Start

2012-10

Primary completion

2013-10

Completion

2013-10

Publications

• Background Khan TA, Schnickel G, Ross D, Bastani S, Laks H, Esmailian F, Marelli D, Beygui R, Shemin R, Watson L, Vartapetian I, Ardehali A. A prospective, randomized, crossover pilot study of inhaled nitric oxide versus inhaled prostacyclin in heart transplant and lung transplant recipients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009 Dec;138(6):1417-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.04.063.
• Background De Wet CJ, Affleck DG, Jacobsohn E, Avidan MS, Tymkew H, Hill LL, Zanaboni PB, Moazami N, Smith JR. Inhaled prostacyclin is safe, effective, and affordable in patients with pulmonary hypertension, right heart dysfunction, and refractory hypoxemia after cardiothoracic surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2004 Apr;127(4):1058-67. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2003.11.035.
• Background Potapov E, Meyer D, Swaminathan M, Ramsay M, El Banayosy A, Diehl C, Veynovich B, Gregoric ID, Kukucka M, Gromann TW, Marczin N, Chittuluru K, Baldassarre JS, Zucker MJ, Hetzer R. Inhaled nitric oxide after left ventricular assist device implantation: a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Aug;30(8):870-8. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2011.03.005. Epub 2011 Apr 29.
• Background Antoniou T, Prokakis C, Athanasopoulos G, Thanopoulos A, Rellia P, Zarkalis D, Kogerakis N, Koletsis EN, Bairaktaris A. Inhaled nitric oxide plus iloprost in the setting of post-left assist device right heart dysfunction. Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Sep;94(3):792-8. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2012.04.046. Epub 2012 Jun 23.

Drugs

Indications