NCT07918976CompletedPhase 2
Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Sublingual Microcirculation in Patients With Right Ventricular Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery
Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Sublingual Microcirculation in Patients With Right Ventricular Dysfunction After Cardiac Surgery: a Prospective Interventional Study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 5 Nov 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction complicates 0.1-3% of cardiac surgical procedures and is strongly associated with elevated postoperative mortality. Pulmonary hypertension is a key determinant of perioperative RV failure. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator that reduces pulmonary arterial pressure and has been widely used as adjunctive therapy in this setting. However, whether iNO influences systemic microcirculatory perfusion in these patients remains undefined. We conducted a single-centre, prospective, interventional study. Adult patients with post-cardiotomy RV dysfunction - defined as central venous pressure (CVP) ≥ 15 mmHg combined with a pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) \> 35 mmHg on transthoracic echocardiography - were eligible. On top of standard postoperative care, patients received inhaled NO at 10-20 ppm for 2 hours without any concomitant change in vasoactive support. General characteristics, haemodynamic variables and sublingual microcirculatory parameters were recorded at baseline and again after 2 hours of iNO. The primary endpoint was the change in sublingual perfused vessel density (PVD). Secondary endpoints included mean arterial pressure (MAP), CVP, transthoracic echocardiographic indices, oxygenation index (OI), other sublingual microcirculatory parameters, capillary refill time (CRT), duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.
- Status (registry)
- Completed
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 60 (actual)
- First submitted
- 22 Oct 2026
- Start date
- 1 Oct 2024
- Primary completion date
- 30 Sept 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Southeast University, China
- NCT number
- NCT07918976
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 2
- Participants enrolled: 60
- From 1 Oct 2024 to the primary completion date, 30 Sept 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Contraindications to inhaled nitric oxide therapy, such as lethal congenital cardiac defects (including left-to-right shunts) and congenital methaemoglobinaemia;
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to nitric oxide;
- Any condition judged unsuitable for inhaled nitric oxide therapy by the treating investigator.
Age
- Age \> 80 years;
Other
- Inability to obtain or adequately analyse sublingual microcirculatory images (e.g., due to poor image quality, motion artefact, or inability to cooperate with the acquisition protocol);
- Use of mechanical circulatory support devices that significantly influence haemodynamics, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), or left ventricular assist device (LVAD);
Who the study is looking for
- Adult patients (≥ 18 years) admitted to the ICU after cardiac surgery;
- Receiving mechanical ventilation;
- Central venous pressure (CVP) ≥ 15 mmHg plus a pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) \> 35 mmHg on transthoracic echocardiography;
Age in the registry: 18 years to 80 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Save your city in your profile to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Nanjing | China | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.