New Technology for the Use of Inhaled Nitric Oxide to Protect the Heart and Lungs during Operations with Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new technology for the use of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) for the heart and lung protection during operations with cardiopulmonary bypass (СРВ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 90 patients who underwent heart valve surgery and combined procedures under CPB and pharmacological cardioplegia. Three groups were created: group 1 (control, n=30); group 2 (n=30) - NO inhalation (20 ppm) was conducted traditionally, that is, before and after CPB; group 3 (n=30) - NO inhalation was performed using a new technology - during the entire operation, with pulmonary artery perfusion and lung ventilation performed during CPB. Troponin I (cTn I) level, changes in the pulmonary function parameters, and clinical indicators were studied. RESULTS: Statistically significant lower levels of postoperative cTn I were registered in the patients of groups 2 and 3, at the same time, the levels were significantly lower in group 3 compared to group 2. The patients in group 1 (standardized anesthesia protocol) demonstrated an increase in the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, an increase in intrapulmonary shunting, a decrease in blood oxygenation, and static lung compliance after СРВ. In both cases, NO inhalation retained the values of lung compliance and pulmonary oxygenating function after CPB, and in the patients of group 3, it also significantly reduced intrapulmonary shunting and alveolar-arterial difference after CPB. NO inhalation allowed a statistically significant decrease in the incidence of pulmonary dysfunction, acute respiratory failure, as well as the time of respiratory support in the ICU. CONCLUSION: The developed technology for the use of inhaled NO in surgery with CPB provides a clinically marked protective effect on the heart and lungs. The effectiveness of the protective action of NO depends on the duration of its administration and is most pronounced when used during the entire operation, including CPB time.

Nitrogen Oxide-Added Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Treating Critical Acute Heart Failure after Cardiac Surgery.

The aim of the study was to test the use of gaseous nitric oxide added to the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system for treating critical acute heart failure after cardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Venoarterial ECMO with addition of nitric oxide into the extracorporeal circuit was used for treating a 52-year-old patient after two-step cardiac surgery for acute dissection of the thoracic aorta and aortic valve insufficiency. After the Bentall-de Bono procedure, a technical error was revealed: that was a non-functioning anastomosis to the right coronary artery, which caused massive ischemic myocardial injury. An emergency myocardial revascularization was performed with the help of the cardiopulmonary bypass converted into ECMO; the patient's condition improved and he was transferred to the ICU. RESULTS: Considering the sharp decrease in heart contractility and the extremely high level of myocardial damage markers, it was decided to supply nitric oxide (40 ppm) to the ECMO circuit. A positive effect was noted within 8 h from the start of the procedure: the concentration of creatine phosphokinase-MB decreased almost 4 times and the concentration of troponin I decreased twofold. The most pronounced changes were observed by the end of day 1: a significant decrease in the concentration of myocardial damage markers, a decrease in the VIS indicator by 7.5 times; an improvement in the contractile function. Further on, the patient's condition gradually stabilized: the manifestations of acute heart failure and multiple organ failure stopped, and then ECMO was discontinued after 82 h of work. The patient was decannulated and he continued to show stable hemodynamic parameters. He was discharged from the clinic on day 18 after surgery. CONCLUSION: For the first time, venoarterial ECMO with supply of gaseous nitric oxide into the extracorporeal circuit was used to support blood circulation after cardiac surgery. This made it possible to ensure the survival of the patient with critical ischemia-reperfusion injury developed after the surgery.