title: [Efficacy of inhaled nitric oxide in premature infants with hypoxic respiratory failure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the safety and efficacy of low-concentration inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in the treatment of hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF) among premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty premature infants (gestational age ≤ 34 weeks) with HRF were randomized into NO and control groups between 2012 and 2013, with 30 cases in each group. Both groups received nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) or mechanical ventilation. NO inhalation was continued for at least 7 days or until weaning in the NO group. The general conditions, blood gas results, complications, and clinical outcomes of the two groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NO group showed significantly more improvement in blood gas results than the control group after 12 hours of treatment (P<0.05). After that, the change in oxygenation status over time showed no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in total time of assisted ventilation and duration of oxygen therapy between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), patent ductus arteriosus, necrotizing enterocolitis, retinopathy of prematurity, and pneumothorax in infants showed no significant differences between the NO and control groups (P>0.05), but the incidence of IVH and mortality were significantly lower in the NO group than in the control group (7% vs 17%, P<0.05; 3% vs 13%, P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NO inhalation may improve oxygenation status and reduce the mortality in premature infants with HRF, but it cannot reduce the incidence of BPD and the total time of mechanical ventilation or nCPAP and duration of oxygen therapy. NO therapy may have a brain-protective effect for premature infants with HRF and does not increase clinical complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Guangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanning 530003, China. pxn16892003@163.com.
authors.forename: Qiu-Fen
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xin-Nian
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Gui-Liang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dan-Hua
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xian-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide