THE USE OF INHALED AEROSOLIZED PROSTACYCLIN (IAP) IN THE TREATMENT OFPULMONARY-HYPERTENSION SECONDARY TO PULMONARY-EMBOLISM

Objective: To describe the use of inhaled aerosolized prostacyclin (IA P) in a patient with life-threatening pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary embolism and to discuss the possible use of inhaled pros tacyclin in the management of pulmonary embolism. Design: Case report. Setting: Intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. Patie nts: One patient with severe pulmonary hypertension secondary to acute -on-chronic pulmonary embolism. Interventions: Conventional medical ma nagement of massive pulmonary embolism and inhaled aerosolized prostac yclin (IAP). Measurements and results: Description of clinical course, haemodynamic data and gas exchange data. Conclusions: We describe a p atient with massive pulmonary embolism for whom the addition of IAP to his therapy appeared to result in a transient improvement in pulmonar y haemodynamics and gas exchange.