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Supraventricular dysrhythmias (atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) were the most common adverse effects, occurring in 24 percent (4/17) of PGE,-treated patients, and were associated with hypotension in two cases and cardiac arrest in one (Table 4). Prostaglandin E, may have caused supraventricular dysrhythmias in patients par­ticularly prone to dysrhythmias. All patients who developed supraventricular [...]

Infusion of PGE, in patients who had ARDS de­creased the SVRI and extraction ratio of oxygen and increased total and polymorphonuclear leukocyte con­centrations, indicating significant systemic vasodila­tion and possibly reduced intrapulmonary leukocyte sequestration, respectively; however, PGE, did not change oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption, and there were no differences in oxygen delivery and oxygen consumption [...]

Significant thrombocytopenia occurred in three patients (platelet concentrations of 32, 44, and 24 x 10/ml). These patients were receiving medica­tions and had illnesses (sepsis; disseminated intravas­cular coagulation) associated with thrombocytopenia. After cessation of PGE,, platelet concentrations rose to 117,189, and 113 x KF/ml and continued to increase in one patient (case 6) when PGE, was [...]

The clinical characteristics of the PGE,-treated and control patients are presented in Table 1. There were no differences in the age, sex, APACHE II or ARDS scores, or cause of ARDS between PGE ^treated and control patients. The most common causes of ARDS in PGE,-treated and control patients were sepsis, aspiration syndrome, and multiple trauma. [...]

Measurements Right atrial, pulmonary arterial, and pulmonary arterial occlusion pressures were measured at the end of expiration referenced to atmospheric pressure using flow-directed pulmonary arterial cath­eters (Gould Inc), transducers (Gould Inc), and bedside monitors. Cardiac output was measured in triplicate using the thermodilution technique (Gould Inc), with room-temperature 5 percent dextrose in water. Systemic arterial [...]

This study was performed with approval of the St. Pauls Hospital Research and Ethics Committees, and informed consent was obtained from the next of kin of all PGE,-treated patients. Selection of Patients Patients in the ICU of St. Paul’s Hospital were included in the study (April 1985 to May 1986) if they had ARDS without [...]

Therapy for ARDS has been supportive because of the failure to find an agent or device which significantly reduces mortality. Prostaglandin E, has important vasodilating and anti-inflammatory actions which make it appealing for the treatment of patients with ARDS. Prostaglandin E, increases cardiac output and systemic oxygen delivery while reducing pulmo­nary artery pressure and vascular [...]