The Effects of Enoximone in Acute Exacerbation COPD

Introduction: The pharmacodynamic properties of enoximone could be beneficial for patients with an Acute Exacerbation COPD (AE-COPD). This research will focus on patients suffering of a severe AE-COPD and the bronchodilatory and inotropic effects of lower doses of enoximone. The main objective of the pilot study is to investigate if there is a bronchodilatory effect of enoximone in patients with AE-COPD. Secondary objective is to investigate a dose responsiveness in a range between 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg enoximone. Methods: The study design is a prospective interventional non-randomized clinical series study involving patients admitted and intubated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with an AE-COPD. Patients will receive three times a dose of 0.5 mg/kg enoximone with a one-hour-interval. The primary objective is a reduction in auto-positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) after enoximone compared to baseline. A dose-titration will test for dose dependency. Secondary objectives are a reduction in ventilator pressures, a reduction in pulmonary artery pressures and an increase in cardiac output.

Ventilator will be set during the study period at Volume Controle, 6 ml/kg, 5 PEEP and a respiratory rate of 15 bpm with an I:E-ratio of 1:2. Salbutamol/ipratropium bromide and magnesium sulphate will be administered at baseline (t=0h) and measurements will be made for an hour. At T=1h the first dose of 0.5 mg/kg enoximone will be administered and will be repeated at T=2h and T=3h. Ventilator derived variables will be obtained every fifteen minutes and echocardiography, arterial and central venous bloodgas analyses every hour until t=6h.