Inhaled nitric oxide reduces the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

OBJECTIVE

We previously reported improved oxygenation, but no change, in rates of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use or death among infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn who received inhaled nitric oxide (NO) with conventional ventilation, irrespective of lung disease. The goal of our study was to determine whether treatment with inhaled NO improves oxygenation and clinical outcomes in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and associated lung disease who are ventilated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV).

DESIGN

Single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled trial.

SETTING

Newborn intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

We studied infants with a gestational age of > or =34 wks who were receiving mechanical ventilatory support and had echocardiographic and clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemia (PaO2 < or =100 mm Hg on FIO2 = 1.0), despite optimal medical management Infants with congenital heart disease, diaphragmatic hernia, or other major anomalies were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

The treatment group received inhaled NO, whereas the control group did not. Adjunct therapies and ECMO criteria were the same in the two groups of patients. Investigators and clinicians were not masked as to treatment assignment, and no crossover of patients was permitted.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Primary outcome variables were mortality and use of ECMO. Secondary outcomes included change in oxygenation and duration of mechanical ventilatory support and supplemental oxygen therapy. Forty-two patients were enrolled. Baseline oxygenation and clinical characteristics were similar in the two groups of patients. Infants in the inhaled NO group (n = 21) had improved measures of oxygenation at 15 mins and 1 hr after enrollment compared with infants in the control group (n = 20). Fewer infants in the inhaled NO group compared with the control group were treated with ECMO (14% vs. 55%, respectively; p = .007). Mortality did not differ with treatment assignment.

CONCLUSIONS

Among infants ventilated by HFOV, those receiving inhaled NO had a reduced need for ECMO. We speculate that HFOV enhances the effectiveness of inhaled NO treatment in infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and associated lung disease.