B. Kao et al., Long-term prostacyclin infusion to reduce pulmonary hypertension in a pediatric cardiac transplant candidate prior to transplantation, J HEART LUN, 20(7), 2001, pp. 785-788
Pulmonary hypertension represents a significant risk factor for peri-operat
ive death in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. Heart-lung transp
lantation is generally the only procedure available for patients whose pulm
onary hypertension can not be reversed by conventional pharmacologic means.
We present a pediatric patient with end-stage cardiac disease and refracto
ry pulmonary hypertension who was treated with long-term intravenous prosta
cyclin. This resulted in a significant enough improvement in her hemodynami
cs to allow for successful cardiac transplantation alone.