The effect of intravenous iloprost on pulmonary artery hypertension after paediatric congenital heart surgery

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of intravenous iloprost on pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in infants undergoing congenital heart surgery. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, the study group (n = 15) received a continuous infusion of iloprost (2.0 ng/kg/min) that was delivered immediately after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass and continued for 72 h postoperatively. Patients in the control group (n = 12) were managed conventionally. The groups were compared in terms of postoperative data, including systolic and mean pulmonary artery (PA) pressures, PA/systemic pressure ratio, lactate level, PAH crisis, ventilation time, reintubation and lengths of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay. Transthoracic echocardiography was used to assess PA pressures at 1 day, 7 days and 30 days after surgery. RESULTS: No mortality occurred. PAH crisis occurred in 2 (16.6%) patients in the control group and 4 (26.7%) patients in the study group (P = 0.53). Postoperative PA pressures and PA/systemic pressure ratios were similar between the groups (P > 0.05). The durations of ICU (P = 0.40) and hospital (P = 0.98) stays were similar between the groups. Echocardiographic studies demonstrated a significant decrease in postoperative PA pressures in the control (P = 0.001) and study (P = 0.0001) groups. However, no significant change was observed between the groups (P > 0.05). The Tukey multiple comparison test showed a significant decrease in PA pressures at each follow-up in both groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous iloprost demonstrated no additional benefit over the conventional management of infants with PAH after repair of intracardiac defects. Clinicians may prefer other alternative agents in infants with a high risk of PAH crisis.