Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the initial longterm effect of inhaled NO on hypoxemia in ARDS patients. DESIGN: Retrospective study. PATIENTS: Nine hypoxemic patients with ARDS (Murray Lung Injury Score, LIS, 2.8 +/- 0.3), treated with conventional mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: Continuous NO inhalation was started after a test of inhaled NO efficacy on gas exchange and hemodynamics. Long term effects of inhaled NO were evaluated daily in terms of arterial oxygenation and methemoglobin formation. RESULTS: The initial NO inhalation increased the PaO2/FiO2 from 141 +/- 64 mmHg to 216 +/- 70 mmHg (p <0.0001) and decreased the mean pulmonary pressure from 38 +/- 7 mmHg to 32 +/- 5 mmHg (p <0.01), the pulmonary venous admixture from 29 +/- 10% to 20 +/- 8% (p <0.01) and the pulmonary vascular resistance from 325 +/- 97 dyne.s.cm-5 to 238 +/- 48 dyne.s.cm-5 (p <0.01). Daily withdrawal of inhaled NO, which was administered for 14 +/- 16 days at 8 +/- 2 ppm, was associated with a decrease in PaO2/FiO2 by 61 +/- 32 mmHg (p <0.0001). During prolonged NO inhalation the FiO2 was decreased, on average, by 0.34 +/- 0.19 (p <0.01), the positive end-expiratory pressure by 4 +/- 2 cmH2O (p <0.01) and the peak inspiratory pressure by 7 +/- 4 cmH2O (p <0.01). Three patients died during the ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the interest for inhaled NO as an additional approach for the treatment of hypoxemia in ARDS. Inhaled NO seems to allow for a better control of gas exchange, rather than for a rapid reduction of the ventilatory support.
| Translated title of the contribution | Inhaled nitrous oxide (NO) for the treatment of ARDS |
|---|---|
| Original language | Italian |
| Pages (from-to) | 61-68 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Minerva Anestesiologica |
| Volume | 63 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 1997 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine