Nitric Oxide and Treatment of Respiratory Failure in Children

Overview

In years 1997 – 1998 there was treated in our PICU 521 children with mechanical ventilation, in 6 children failed conventional respiratory treatmentand led to increasing of hypoxemia with no response on treatment. Nitric oxide was in these cases used as a method for treatment of supposed pulmonaryhypertension. Indication for use of NO were SaO2 saturation below 85 %, paO2 below 10 kPa, hypoxemic index under 80, pulmonary shunts above40 % with application FiO2 1,0. Positive effect was minimum 10 % increased SaO2 saturation with improvement of other parameters as above. NOwas used in 6 children in age bracket 3 month to 14 years. Treatment continued from 4 to 27 days and used dose of NO was from 20 ppm to 35 ppm.Positive effect was in 5 cases, 1 patient died. Adverse effects of NO application were not noticed.

Key words:
nitric oxide – respiratory failure – children