In a Chinese study of 86 babies with pulmonary hypertension, those treated with nitric oxide as well as ventilation did better than those treated with ventilation alone: they required less oxygen and reached higher levels of oxygen saturation in the blood faster, among other benefits.
Similarly, oxygenation index, which is a measure of oxygen use in the body, increased with time and was higher in co-treated patients compared to those treated with ventilation only.
When researchers measured pulmonary arterial pressure, they found that it dropped over time, but was again lower in the group of babies co-treated with nitric oxide inhalation.
Finally, the duration of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy needed, as well as mortality rate, was significantly lower in patients co-treated with nitric oxide treatment.
