Uso de óxido nítrico inhalado en la hipertensión pulmonar persistente del recién nacido

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is the result of an abnormal adaptation to the perinatal circulatory transition. Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn is a syndrome noted for its sustained elevation of the pulmonary vascular resistance, decreased lung perfusion, and continued right to left shunting of blood through the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus. Respiratory failure in the neonate is frequently complicated by persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. Nitric oxide has been shown to be efficient in its treatment, and inhaled nitric oxide is the only agent approved by the FDA for use in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and, should always be the first-line treatment. In this article a review is presented of the evidence for the use of inhaled nitric oxide in the persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.