• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a consequence of the failure of a decrease in the elevated pulmonary vascular resistance after birth. Pulmonary vasodilators, including inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), have been the mainstream of targeted therapy for PPHN, but no drugs have been proven to be effective in preterm infants with PPHN. The fetus remains hemodynamically stable despite lower arterial oxygen tension and pulmonary blood flow as compared to full-term newborns. This adaptation is due to the lower oxygen requirement and high oxygen-carrying capacity of fetal circulation. The immature lungs of preterm infants are more vulnerable to reactive oxygen species, and the response of pulmonary vascular dilatation to blood oxygen tension is blunted in preterm infants. Recently, iNO has been reported to be effective in a selected group of preterm infants, such as those with prolonged preterm rupture of membrane-oligohydramnios-pulmonary hypoplasia sequence. PPHN in preterm infants, along with maximum supportive treatment based on fetal physiology and meticulous assessment of cardiovascular function, is in dire need of new treatment guidelines, including optimal dosing strategies for pulmonary vasodilators.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.175-183
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• 1988

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia [CDH] is a surgical emergency in the newborn infant because it causes severe cardiorespiratory distress. Congenital diaphragmatic eventration [CDE] may also produce severe cardiorespiratory distress in the newborn infant. CDH is an anatomically simple defect that can be easily repaired by reduction of the displaced viscera from the pleural cavity and closure of the diaphragmatic defect. But these infants mortality has not been reduced and still remains very high. The barrier to survival is pulmonary parenchymal and vascular hypoplasia as well as the complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation. Between May, 1985 and Oct, 1987, 4 neonates with CDH and 1 neonate with CDE were seen in respiratory distress within 12 hrs of birth at St. Francisco general hospital. Each had severe acidosis and hypoxia. And was transferred from a local clinic. They were surgically repaired within 24 hrs of birth. Three neonates lived and two died. Two of the three neonates with CDH operated in the first 6 hrs died. The remaining two [one with CDH, the other with CDE] operated between 6hrs and 24 hrs lived. One case of mortality was combined with bilateral pulmonary hypoplasia and contralateral pneumothorax. The other one case of mortality was combined with complex syndrome of persistent fetal circulation after honeymoon period.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.1175-1180
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• 2009

We report a case of a full-term neonate with persistent pulmonary hypertension who developed asphyxia after birth and was treated with iloprost. The neonate had persistent hypoxia and did not respond to supportive treatment. Because inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) was not available in our hospital, inhaled iloprost was administered via an endotracheal tube. This resulted in an immediate elevation of oxygen saturation. Echocardiography revealed the conversion of the right-to-left ductal shunt to the left-to-right one and a decrease of the right ventricular pressure. The use of inhaled iloprost did not cause any significant side effects. Here, we describe our experience where iloprost was used in a neonate with persistent pulmonary hypertension because the standard therapy with inhaled nitric oxide was not available.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 2010

Persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns (PPHN) is a disorder of the vascular transition from fetal to neonatal circulation. It results in cyanosis due to right-to-left shunting of the blood through the ductus arteriosus and/or foramen ovale manifesting as hypoxemic respiratory failure. We managed two cases of PPHN after meconium aspiration with high frequency oscillating ventilators and inhaled nitric oxide. They did not respond to conventional management. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was provided, and ECMO weaning was possible resulting survivals in two cases. We report two PPHN cases, which were treated successfully with veno-venous ECMO for the first time in Korea.