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Nitric oxide inhalation is useful in the management of right ventricular failure caused by myocardial contusion
Author(s) -
Meaudre E.,
Goutorbe P.,
Boret H.,
Kaiser E.,
Salinier L.,
Cantais E.,
Palmier B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta anaesthesiologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1399-6576
pISSN - 0001-5172
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2005.00644.x
Subject(s) - medicine , inhalation , anesthesia , nitric oxide , hemodynamics , blunt , cardiology , afterload , catecholamine , surgery
We report a severe head injury and blunt chest trauma with sternal and multiple rib fractures with high‐energy impact in a 22‐year‐old man. Twelve hours after the accident, haemodynamic status of the patient rapidly worsened because of right ventricular (RV) failure due to myocardial contusion, requiring increasing doses of catecholamine. Nitric oxide inhalation was used to decrease RV afterload, and produced an immediate improvement in haemodynamic status, permitting a decrease in catecholamine administration. From days 2 through 8, cardiac function continued to improve, and was normal on day 9. Nitric oxide inhalation was stopped on day 4.