British Journal of Anaesthesia 1994; 73: 499-502 Inhaled nitric oxide in acute respiratory failure in adults

We have assessed the acute effects of inhaled nitric oxide 8, 32 and 128 volumes per million (vpm) on pulmonary haemodynamics and arterial oxygen-ation in patients with severe acute respiratory failure. Fourteen patients requiring artificial ven-tilation with mean pulmonary artery pressures greater than 30 mm Hg were given inhaled nitric oxide; haemodynamic values and blood-gas tensions were measured before and after 10 min of inhalation of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide inhaled at 8, 32 and 128 vpm decreased mean pulmonary artery pressure by 1.7 (SD 2.2), 3.2(2.6) and 3.3 (3.3) mm Hg, pulmonary vascular resistance by 20 (64), 53 (57) and 66 (54) dyn s cm 5 and increased arterial oxygen tension by 2.5 (3.6)