• G Capellier, T Jacques, P Balvay, G Blasco, E Belle, and F Barale.
• Département d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France.
• Intensive Care Med. 1997 Oct 1;23(10):1089-92.

ObjectiveTo describe the use of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) in four patients with severe pulmonary embolism.SettingThe intensive care unit (ICU) of a university teaching hospital.PatientsFour patients with severe pulmonary embolism on the basis of clinical, haemodynamic or blood-gas parameters received NO by inhalation either during spontaneous respiration (two cases) or while mechanically ventilated (two cases).InterventionsConventional management of pulmonary embolism in addition to the use of inhaled NO.Measurements And ResultsDescription of clinical course, haemodynamic and gas-exchange data. Dose-response data are also described for three patients.ConclusionsWe reported four cases of pulmonary embolism where the administration of inhaled NO resulted in an improvement in pulmonary haemodynamic and gas-exchange parameters. Two patients were weaned from NO and survived until discharged from the ICU. Inhaled NO might be a useful adjunct in pulmonary embolism to improve stability of the patient prior to thrombolysis or surgery.

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