Cardiology in the Young

Table of Contents - 2005 - Volume 15, Issue 02  


Brief Report

Sudden death during a change in treatment for pulmonary hypertension

Henrik Brun a1c1, Henrik Holmström a1 and Erik Thaulow a1
a1 Department of Paediatrics, National Hospital (Rikshospitalet), Oslo, Norway

Article author query
brun h   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
holmstrom h   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
thaulow e   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

We describe an infant with an atrioventricular septal defect and separate valvar orifices for the right and left ventricles, the so-called primum defect, who presented with serious pulmonary hypertension. Treatment with sildenafil was changed to intravenous epoprostenol due to lack of any measurable effects of the initial therapy as shown by echocardiography. The girl died three days after the change in treatment. We suggest that a mismatch between ventilation and perfusion contributed significantly to her death.

(Accepted September 29 2004)


Key Words: Child; congenital cardiac disease; epoprostenol; sildenafil.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence to: Henrik Brun, Barnehjerteseksjonen, Rikshospitalet, 0027 Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 23 07 45 54; Fax: +47 23 07 23 30; E-mail: henrik.brun@rikshospitalet.no

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