Use of Nitroprusside for Control of Pulmonary Hypertension in Repair of Ventricular Septal Defect

After repair of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in a 3-year-old child with markedly elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), sodium nitroprusside was administered by intravenous infusion at 3.0 μg per kilogram of body weight per minute. Nitroprusside was effective in reducing pulmonary artery pressure and increasing systemic blood pressure in the intraoperative and early postoperative periods. It is suggested that nitroprusside may facilitate the perioperative management and enhance the early survival in patients with increased PVR secondary to a VSD.