Abstract
We infused prostacyclin into 11 critically ill patients for 30 min at a rate of 5 ng/kg·min, prior to commencing prostacyclin haemodialysis. All patients had combined respiratory and renal failure and required intropic support. Despite the previous correction of hypovolaemia, prostacyclin produced a decrease in mean arterial pressure, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistances and cardiac filling pressures. There was no compensatory increase in cardiac output and due to an increase in pulmonary ventilation/perfusion mismatch an overall decrease in tissue oxygen delivery from a median of 560 ml/min·m2 to 370 ml/min·m2 was notedp<0.05, with a corresponding reduction in tissue oxygen uptake from 140 ml/min·m2 to 125 ml/min·m2. This was associated with an increase in both arterial hydrogen ion and lactate concentrations in 8 of the 11 patients studied, suggesting a deterioration in tissue oxygen supply/oxygen requirement. Prostacyclin should not be infused directly into patients unless monitored to assess the therapeutic/adverse effects on an individual patient basis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moncarda S, Vane JR (1979) Pharmacology and endogenous roles of prostaglandin endoeroxides, endoperoxides, thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin. Pharmacol Rev 30:293–331
Turney JH, Dodd NJ, Weston MJ (1981) Prostacyclin in extracorporeal circulations. Lancet I:1101
Turney JH, Williams LC, Fewell MR, Parsons V, Weston MJ (1980) Platelet protection and heparin sparing with prostacyclin during regular dialysis therapy. Lancet II:219–222
Rylance PB, Gordge MP, Ireland H, Lane DA, Weston MJ (1984) Haemodialysis with prostacylin epoprostenol) alone. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 21:276–280
Keogh AM, Rylance PB, Weston MJ, Parsons V (1984) Prostacyclin (epoprostenol) haemodialysis in patients at risk of haemorrhage. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Nurses Assoc 13:51–54
Gaskill HV, Sirinek KR, Levine BA (1984) Prostacyclin selectively enhances blood flow in areas of the gastro-intestinal tract prone to stress ulceration. J Trauma 24:397–402
Knight A, Bihari D, Tinker J (1985) Stress ulceration in the critically ill patient. Br J Hosp Med 33:216–219
Shah D, Newell J, Saba T (1981) Defects in peripheral oxygen utilisation following trauma and shock. Arch Surg 116:1277–1281
Shoemaker WC, Czer L (1979) Evaluation of the biologic importance of various haemodynamic and oxygen transport variables. Crit Care Med 7:424–431
Bihari D, Smithies M, Gimson A, Tinker J (1987) The effects of vasodilation with prostacyclin on oxygen delivery and uptake in critically ill patients. N Engl J Med 317:397–403
Bryan-Brown CW (1988) Blood flow to organs: Parameters for function and survival in critical illness. Crit Care Med 16:170–178
Shoemaker WC (1987) Circulatory mechanisms of shock and their mediators. Crit Care Med 15:787–794
Astiz ME, Rackow EC, Falk JL, Kaufman BS, Weil MH (1987) Oxygen delivery and consumption in patients with hyperdynamic septic shock. Crit Care Med 15:26–28
Moncada S (1982) Biological importance of prostacyclin. Br J Pharmacol 76:3–31
Chelly J, Fabiani JN, Chahine R, Tricot AM, Carpentier A, Passelecq J, Dubost C (1982) Haemodynamic and metabolic effects of prostacyclin after coronary bypass surgery. Circulation 66:[Suppl 1] 145–149
Bihari DJ, Gimson AES, Williams R (1985) Cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal complications of fulminant hepatic failure. Semin Liver Dis 6:119–128
Archie JP (1981) Mathematic coupling of data: a common source of error. Ann Surg 19:296–303
Pepe PE, Culver BH (1985) Independently measured oxygen consumption during reduction of oxygen delivery by positive end expiratory pressure. Am Rev Respir Dis 132:788–792
Knauss WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, Zimmerman JE (1985) Apache II: a severity of disease classification system. Crit Care Med 13:818–829
Cunion RE, Schoer GL, Parker MM (1986) The coronary circulation in human septic shock. Circulation 73:637–644
Shippy LR, Appel PL, Shoemaker WC (1984) Reliability of clinical monitoring to assess blood volume in critically ill patients. Crit Care Med 12:107–112
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Davenport, A., Will, E.J. & Davison, A.M. Adverse effects of prostacyclin administered directly into patients with combined renal and respiratory failure prior to dialysis. Intensive Care Med 16, 431–435 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711220
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711220