Effectiveness of sildenafil in pulmonary hypertension secondary to mitral valve disease

Abstract

Background and Aim: Pulmonary arterial hypertension almost always accompanies long-standing mitral valvular heart disease. The objective of this study is to study the effectiveness of sildenafil in reducing pulmonary hypertension in the peroperative and perioperative period. Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients were randomized into two groups test and control. Patients with mitral valvular disease with Pulmonary Artery Systolic Pressure (PASP) >50 were selected from the outpatient department and echo was done before the admission. Patients in the test group and control group were administered oral sildenafil 25 mg and placebo, respectively, three times a day in the preoperative period in the same fashion for 2 weeks. Preoperative echo was repeated thereafter. After induction of anesthesia and with all aseptic and antiseptic precautions, pulmonary artery catheter was inserted in the right internal jugular vein. PASP was calculated ½ hour after the induction of anesthesia. After operation, patients were monitored by transthoracic echo after 1 week. After discharge, patients were monitored by transthoracic echo at 1 month and at 3 months. Patients' data were analyzed using the statistical tools such as mean, Chi-square test for independence, and paired t-test. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in PASP in the sildenafil group in the preoperative period (P