Use and monitoring of inhaled nitric oxide with left ventricular assist devices

1. A method of determining whether a patient with pulmonary hypertension will resolve the pulmonary hypertension with continued use of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), the method comprising:

measuring one or more pulmonary hemodynamic parameters of a patient with an LVAD to obtain a first pulmonary hemodynamic value;

after obtaining the first pulmonary hemodynamic value, administering a dose of inhaled nitric oxide to the patient with the LVAD;

measuring one or more pulmonary hemodynamic parameters of the patient during or after the inhaled nitric oxide administration to obtain a second pulmonary hemodynamic value;

comparing the one or more hemodynamic parameters to a predetermined range; and

adjusting the dose of inhaled nitric oxide if the one or more hemodynamic parameters are outside of the predetermined range,

wherein a decrease in the pulmonary hemodynamic parameter from the first pulmonary hemodynamic value to the second pulmonary hemodynamic value of at least 10 mm Hg and/or at least 20% indicates that the patient is likely to resolve the pulmonary hypertension after continued use of the LVAD.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulmonary hemodynamic parameter is selected from cardiac output (CO), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), transpulmonary gradient (TPG) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhaled nitric oxide is administered at a concentration of 5 to 80 ppm for at least 10 minutes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring one or more pulmonary hemodynamic parameters comprises performing a right heart catheterization.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

placing the patient on a heart transplant list if the decrease in the pulmonary hemodynamic parameter from the first pulmonary hemodynamic value to the second pulmonary hemodynamic value is at least 10 mm Hg and/or at least 20%; and

explanting the LVAD and implanting a donor heart in the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring one or more pulmonary hemodynamic parameters comprises monitoring one or more output parameters of the LVAD.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring one or more pulmonary hemodynamic parameters comprises monitoring one or more output parameters of the LVAD.