A randomized, controlled study of the 1-hour and 24-hour effects of inhaled nitric oxide therapy in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether 24 h of inhaled nitric oxide improves oxygenation greater than conventional therapy alone in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled study.


METHODS
Twenty-six-bed pediatric ICU in a tertiary children's hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients with acute bilateral lung disease requiring a positive-end expiratory pressure >6 cm H2O and a fraction of inspired oxygen >0.5 for >12 h.


METHODS
Twelve patients were treated with 10 ppm inhaled nitric oxide from the onset of randomization and 12 control patients were initially maintained on a regimen of conventional therapy alone. After a period of 24 h, control patients were also treated with 10 ppm inhaled nitric oxide. Hemodynamic and blood gas measurements were performed at baseline, at 1 h after randomization, and at 24-h intervals for 2 days.


RESULTS
Inhaled nitric oxide decreased the ratio of pulmonary to systemic vascular resistance and improved oxygenation indexes during the initial hour following randomization. However, 24 h after randomization, the oxygenation indexes of 11 surviving treated patients were not improved in comparison to baseline or the oxygenation indexes of 10 surviving control patients. Oxygenation indexes acutely improved in control patients when inhaled nitric oxide was started after 24 h of conventional therapy. Oxygenation indexes remained improved in the initial control patients after 24 h of inhaled nitric oxide.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic oxygenation are acutely improved by 10 ppm inhaled nitric oxide in some children with severe lung disease. However, a sustained improvement in oxygenation may not occur during prolonged therapy. Thus, inhaled nitric oxide may have a limited therapeutic role in children with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.
Day
R W
RW
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Primary Children's Medical Center and the University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84113-1100, USA. ron.day@hsc.utah.edu
Allen
E M
EM
Witte
M K
MK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006612:High-Frequency Ventilation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D017725:Ventricular Pressure
D009569:Nitric Oxide