Ventilator Weaning Failure Induced by Oral Beraprost in a Patient after Femoral Endarterectomy: A Case Report.

Abstract

Beraprost sodium, an oral prostacyclin analog, is a systemic vasodilator whose role in ventilator weaning failure has not been widely described. We present the case of a 90-year-old man with extensive atelectasis who received beraprost for critical limb ischemia and developed refractory ventilator weaning failure. Each weaning attempt was interrupted by recurrent episodes of tachypnea and marked hypoxemia. These events resolved after discontinuation of beraprost; however, reintroduction of the drug reproduced identical respiratory deterioration, suggesting a potential association. Oral beraprost may contribute to recurrent hypoxemia and tachypnea in patients with severe pre-existing ventilation-perfusion mismatch, potentially leading to ventilator weaning failure.