Management of postoperative pulmonary hypertension by inhaled nitric oxide in a newborn with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Abstract

Postero-lateral congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a life threatening anomaly characterized by diaphragmatic defect and intrathoracic herniation of abdominal viscera. In patients with CDH, the lungs are hypoplastic and persistent pulmonary hypertension develops in most cases. Although, inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) results in a reduction in pulmonary hypertension with improvement in oxygenation, its benefit in the patients with CDH remains controversial. In this report, the authors present successful management of postoperative pulmonary hypertension by iNO in a newborn with CDH.