ACUTE HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF PULSED DELIVERY OF LOW-FLOW NASAL NITRIC-OXIDE IN CHILDREN WITH PULMONARY-HYPERTENSION

We studied 8 children, ages 8 months to 14 years, during cardiac cathe terization in order to determine the acute hemodynamic effects of puls ed nasal cannula delivery of nitric oxide (NO) in children with pulmon ary hypertension. NO was administered by continuous mask or pulsed nas al cannula in random order. All patients effectively triggered the NO pulsing device. Pulsed delivery of inhaled NO lowered mean pulmonary a rtery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance as effectively as mas k delivery of NO. Pulsed inhaled NO delivery may potentially be useful for the long-term domiciliary treatment of pulmonary hypertension in children.