Oral beraprost induced recurrent hypoxemia and tachypnea in a patient with extensive atelectasis, leading to refractory ventilator weaning failure that resolved upon drug discontinuation.
Case Report (n=1)
Does oral beraprost induce ventilator weaning failure in patients with severe pre-existing ventilation-perfusion mismatch?
Oral beraprost may contribute to recurrent hypoxemia and tachypnea in patients with severe pre-existing ventilation-perfusion mismatch, leading to ventilator weaning failure.
Beraprost sodium, an oral prostacyclin analog, is a systemic vasodilator whose role in ventilator weaning failure has not been widely described. We present the case of a 90-year-old man with extensive atelectasis who received beraprost for critical limb ischemia and developed refractory ventilator weaning failure. Each weaning attempt was interrupted by recurrent episodes of tachypnea and marked hypoxemia. These events resolved after discontinuation of beraprost; however, reintroduction of the drug reproduced identical respiratory deterioration, suggesting a potential association. Oral beraprost may contribute to recurrent hypoxemia and tachypnea in patients with severe pre-existing ventilation–perfusion mismatch, potentially leading to ventilator weaning failure.
Obayashi et al. (Thu,) conducted a case report in Ventilator weaning failure (n=1). Beraprost sodium was evaluated on Resolution of ventilator weaning failure upon dechallenge. Oral beraprost induced recurrent hypoxemia and tachypnea in a patient with extensive atelectasis, leading to refractory ventilator weaning failure that resolved upon drug discontinuation.