title: Inhaled nitric oxide as salvage therapy in massive pulmonary embolism: a case series.
abstract: Inhaled nitric oxide (INO) has been shown to preferentially lower resistance in the pulmonary vasculature. The relative selectiveness of INO in accomplishing this effect makes it an attractive drug to administer as salvage therapy in patients with acute right ventricular failure secondary  to pulmonary embolism. We describe 4 cases in which INO was used as a temporizing agent to decrease right ventricular after-load following massive near-fatal pulmonary embolism. All 4 patients survived to hospital discharge.
authors: Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA.
authors: Douglas T
authors: DT
authors: Summerfield
authors: Himanshu
authors: H
authors: Desai
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Levitov
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Grooms
authors: Paul E
authors: PE
authors: Marik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide