The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 53, 148-150, Copyright © 1992 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Successful treatment of acute postoperative pulmonary hypertension with nifedipine
DA Davis and P Russo
Pediatric Heart Institute, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
We report the successful use of nifedipine in the treatment of acute
pulmonary hypertension in an infant after a cardiac operation. This patient
had undergone total surgical correction of his truncus arteriosus
malformation. He had signs of severe pulmonary artery hypertension
unresponsive to hyperventilation, oxygenation, sedation, and a myriad of
vasodilators. Nifedipine, 0.2 mg/kg every 4 hours, effectively treated his
pulmonary artery hypertension and allowed for a smooth postoperative course
and positive outcome.