Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is a selective pulmonary vasodilator effective in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension and hypoxemic respiratory failure. Reports in the Czech literature on the results of its therapeutic use are still scarce.
Methods and results: Effects of inhaled NO on the changes of PaO2/FiO2 were assessed in the retrospective study. Records of artificially ventilated patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were reviewed. Daily highest NO dose, the highest PaO2/FiO2 ratio, duration of NO administration and death or survival of the patient was noted. Survivors and nonsurvivors, as well as responders (rise of PaO2/FiO2 by at least 20%) and non-responders were compared using Mann-Whitney and ANOVA test, alpha = 0.05. 16 patients were entered into the study, 13 (81%) responded positively to NO administration, the mortality was 56%. Comparing the age, NO dose, duration of its administration and APACHE II score in survivors and non-survivors, in respondents and non-respondents no differences were found. After NO administration the PaO2/FiO2 rose both in survivors and non-survivors (p < 0.0005). In survivors the response of oxygenation was more pronounced, although the difference did not reach the statistical significance (p = 0.07). On the days 1-3 the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was higher in survivors (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Despite the transient increase in oxygenation after NO administration, mortality of patients with ARDS remained high. NO administration could not be considered the standard method of treatment of patients with ARDS in intensive care.