BACKGROUND: Evaluation of pulmonary artery pressure just before transplanting with sodium nitroprusside may allow conversion to orthotopic technique. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2007, 228 transplants were performed systematically and this was used in seven patients with preoperative hemodynamic evaluation: Pre NP (mmHg) Post NP (mmHg) Systolic systemic blood pressure (PSAS) 108-78 (101.7 ± 10.9) 90-74 (79.5 ± 15.2) pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) 88-51 (69.8 ± 13.2) 70-40 (57.8 ± 9.9) Gradient transpulmonary (GTP) 16-11 (14.2 ± 1.7) 14-11 (12.4 ± 1.2) pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR/w) 7.9 to 4.8 (6.2 ± 1 0) 5.9-4.1 (5.0 ± 0.8). RESULTS: The intraoperative findings were: Pre NP (mmHg) e Post NP (mmHg), respectively, PSAS 91-78 (8.5 ± 5.2) and 65-59 (4.2 ± 63.8) (P = 0.017), decrease 19.9%, decrease 29.3%; PSAP 71-52 (61.8 ± 6.1) and 43-32 (37.5 ± 3.3) (P = 0.018), decrease 28%, decrease 41%. In light of these data, patients were transplanted by orthotopic technique not being observed mortality in the short and long-term evolution from 5 months to 6 years. CONCLUSION: This methodology allowed the conversion of the technique for heterotopic orthotopically, with good early and late otcomes.
Hypertension, pulmonary; Heart transplantation; Pulmonary artery
