Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Inhaled nitric oxide use in preterm infants in California neonatal intensive care units

  • S. C. Handley
  • , R. H. Steinhorn
  • , A. O. Hopper
  • , B. Govindaswami
  • , D. R. Bhatt
  • , K. P. Van Meurs
  • , R. L. Ariagno
  • , J. B. Gould
  • , H. C. Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective:To describe inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) exposure in preterm infants and variation in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) use.Study Design:This was a retrospective cohort study of infants, 22 to 33+6/7 weeks of gestational age (GA), during 2005 to 2013. Analyses were stratified by GA and included population characteristics, iNO use over time and hospital variation.Results:Of the 65 824 infants, 1718 (2.61%) received iNO. Infants, 22 to 24+6/7 weeks of GA, had the highest incidence of iNO exposure (6.54%). Community NICUs (n=77, median hospital use rate 0.7%) used less iNO than regional NICUs (n=23, median hospital use rate 5.8%). In 22 to 24+6/7 weeks of GA infants, the median rate in regional centers was 10.6% (hospital interquartile range 3.8% to 22.6%).Conclusion:iNO exposure varied with GA and hospital level, with the most use in extremely premature infants and regional centers. Variation reflects a lack of consensus regarding the appropriate use of iNO for preterm infants.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)635-639
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Cite this