Inhaled nitric oxide and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) may occasionally require an invasive treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has recently been introduced as a selective pulmonary vasodilator for treatment of PPHN. We describe a case of PPHN in which neither inhaled NO nor ECMO was effective in reversing pulmonary hypertension. The clinical course of the patient suggested a potential role of NO inhalation in predicting the outcome of ECMO treatment for PPHN.