The Journal of pharmacy technology : jPT : official publication of the Association of Pharmacy Technicians
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Comparative Study
Cost implications of using inhaled nitric oxide compared with epoprostenol for pulmonary hypertension.
To compare the cost of using intravenous epoprostenol with that of inhaled nitric oxide (NO) for treating episodes of pulmonary hypertension in children with congenital heart disease. ⋯ Using inhaled NO in our pediatric cardiac intensive care unit abolished the use of epoprostenol during the reported monitoring period. The cost savings were significant, amounting to 12% of the annual drug budget for the unit. The cost of setting up the inhaled NO delivery system is recouped rapidly. The ease of delivery and measurement of inhaled NO also may have contributed to its increased clinical use.