Nitric oxide usage after posttraumatic pneumonectomy

Pneumonectomy is rarely required in the surgical management of thoracic tra umatic injuries with high mortality rates. Right heart failure due to eleva ted pulmonary artery pressure and the adult respiratory distress syndrome h ave been leading causes of mortality reported after posttraumatic pneumonec tomy. The beneficial effect of inhaled nitric oxide has been shown in pulmo nary hypertension and in adult respiratory distress syndrome. We report the use of inhaled nitric oxide in the perioperative management of a patient u ndergoing emergent pneumonectomy. (Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:364-6) (C) 2001 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.