Sivelestat Sodium is Effective to Prevent Acute Lung Injury in Acute Aortic Dissection

Acute lung injury is a frequent and serious complication in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). Elevated neutrophil elastase has been reported to be one of the major contributing factots. We evaluated the effects of sivelestat sodium hydrate, a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, to prevent lung injury in medically treated patients with acute aortic dissection. Clinical course of eleven patients who received prophylactic sivelestat sodium hydrate was compared with that of twelve patients without it (control group). Although mechanical ventilation was required in four (42%) control group patients, none needed intubation in the sivelestat group. Our study suggested that sivelestat sodium hydrate might be effective to prevent respiratory failure in acute aortic dissection.