TREATMENT OF SEVERE PERSISTENT PULMONARY- HYPERTENSION OF THE NEWBORN(PPHN) WITH NITRIC-OXIDE (NO)

Since 1992, successful treatment of primary and secondary persistent p ulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) by inhalative application of Nitric Oxide (NO) in concentrations of 10 to 80 ppm has been report ed. This new approach met superior interest, because all PPHN-treatmen ts commonly used are most invasive and complicated by adverse side eff ects. Moreover they often lack efficacy. Most of the neonates transfer red to our institution as candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxyge nation (ECMO) are suffering from pulmonary hypertension associated to various underlying diseases. Within 16 months, we studied the efficacy of inhaled NO in 23 PPHN-patients. The results obtained are discussed along with pathophysiological aspects of PPHN and NO and the clinical experience published by other authors.