Speckle Tracking and Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute cor pulmonale is one of deadly complications of mechanically ventilated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which can lead to right ventricular dysfunction and worsen the hemodynamics of the patient. For several years, transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have replaced the pulmonary artery catheter to monitor cardiac function reliably and non-invasively. Speckle tracking is an echocardiographic technique that allows a two-dimensional strain (2D) analysis of right ventricular systolic function. Right ventricular global strain (RVGLS) is a strain parameter, allowing an early and more accurate diagnosis of right ventricular dysfunction than conventional parameters. This project will consist of performing TTE and TEE measurements at H0, 30min, H1, H2, and H24 after iNO administration in patient with ARDS under mechanical ventilation. The patient will be declared responder to iNO, if there is an increase of more than 20% of the PaO2/FiO2. 30 minutes after a dose of 10ppm of iNO.