Acute respiratory distress syndrome. Inhaled nitric oxide.

There is enough evidence to support the short-term beneficial effects and safety of administering inhaled NO to ARDS patients. This effect may be potentiated when inhaled NO is administered in conjunction with other therapies. The full spectrum of effects of inhaled NO remains to be elucidated. Long-term benefit in terms of mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation has not been demonstrated; more randomized trials probing these effects are needed.