Pulmonary hypertension is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Serious right ventricular dysfunction may complicate the peroperative period. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of PGI2 infusion through its potent vasodilatory and cytoprotective effect. 40 patients with elevated pulmonary vascular resistance undergoing mitral valve surgery were studied to compare the effect of PGI2 on lung paranchyma and vascular bed. Of these patients 20 received peroperative PGI2 infusion while the others did not. Lung biopsies were taken before PGI2 infusion and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathologic findings have shown that PGI2 did not change the irreversible lung damage however, pulmonary blood flow which had been diminished preoperatively increased in patients receiving PGI2. Similar histopathologic findings were consistent in the 6th postoperative month. In addition to its beneficial hemodynamic effects, PGI2 causes improvement in lung paranchyme.

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