Slow Enrollment

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of inhaled nitric oxide on both short-term physiology as well as on the development of ischemia-reperfusion lung injury (IRLI) in the immediate post transplant period. The specific hypothesis is that inhaled NO post lung transplantation will improve gas exchange/hemodynamic and thus reduce the development of post transplant IRLI.

The objective is to determine the role of inhaled NO in the prevention/treatment of IRLI in lung transplant patients. The plan is to accomplish this objective in 2 phases:

Phase 1 - patients immediately post transplant will have a variety of physiologic measurements performed while breathing 0, 10, and 20 ppm inhaled NO. For the next 24 hours they will be kept on a mixture providing the best oxygen delivery and pulmonary artery pressure. Our specific aims in this phase are to characterize physiologic responses to inhaled NO and determine the incidence of IRLI in these patients over 24 hours.

Phase 2 - patients immediately post transplant will be randomized to either INO or placebo gas and followed for 24 hours. Our specific aim in this phase is to compare the rate of development of IRLI in the two groups.

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients undergoing lung transplantation

Exclusion criteria:

• Participation in other experimental protocols