The effect of sildenafil on respiratory weaning of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases admitted to intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease that tends to occur worldwide and is a common cause of respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). The present study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of sildenafil in facilitating the weaning of COPD patients from the ventilator. METHODS This randomized double blind clinical trial study was carried out with 40 patients suffering from COPD. The patients were divided in two study groups. 20 patients belonging to Group I received 20 mg sildenafil tablets twice a day for one week while 20 patients of the second group (Group II) received placebo tablets with the same dosage. Respiratory parameters like rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), mixed venous oxygen pressure (PvO2) and plateau pressure were measured in both groups. Data were analyzed on the basis of student's t-test and Chi2 test using SPSS 16 software. RESULTS The results are expressed as mean +/- SE and P < 0.05 is considered statistically significant. According to our findings RSBI was lower in Group I compared with Group II after one week of treatment (P = 0.032). PvO2 value was higher in sildenafil group compared with placebo group (P = 0.025). Plateau pressure was lower in first group than group II (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION Sildenafil facilitated weaning of COPD patients from the ventilator by improving the respiratory parameters.