Iloprost in High Risk Cardiac Surgical Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * written informed consent * for females of childbearing potential: negative pregnancy test * patients, male or female, 18 to 85 years old * elective open-heart surgery using heart-lung-machine * patients with increased risk to suffer from perioperative right heart failure, i.e., * protracted surgery: multiple valvular transplant or expected bypass time exceeding 120 min and/or * patients with preoperative known pulmonary hypertension and/or * patients with severe heart insufficiency (NYHA III or NYHA IV) Exclusion Criteria: * patient not able to give consent * pregnant or nursing patients * Anamnestic known hypersensitivity to the used drug (Ventavis) and its ingredients or to drugs with a similar chemical structure * blood clotting disorder requiring treatment * trauma, intracerebral bleeding or apoplexy within the last 3 months prior to surgery * primary or secondary immune deficiency (e.g., pretreatment with steroids, cytostatics) * systemic infection * lung disorder with impaired gas exchange * lung transplantation * cardiac transplantation * implantation of LVAD (left ventricular assist device) * fluoride ulcus disorder * planned surgery in deep hypothermia and cardiac arrest * subconscious and psychiatric disordered patients * participation in another clinical trial within the last 30 days prior to study start and up to 30 days after end of study * previous participation in this study