Patient education: Inhaled nitric oxide (The Basics)

What is nitric oxide? — 

Nitric oxide, or "NO," is a chemical the body naturally makes. It can also be given as a medical treatment as a gas you breathe in. This helps blood vessels relax and open wider.

Why might I need inhaled nitric oxide? — 

Doctors use nitric oxide as part of a test for "pulmonary hypertension," or "PH." This is high blood pressure in the blood vessels that carry blood to the lungs. PH can cause symptoms like trouble breathing and feeling very tired.

To test for PH, the doctor puts a thin, flexible tube (called a "catheter") into a blood vessel in your groin, neck, or shoulder area. They move the catheter into the blood vessels in your heart. Then, you breath in inhaled nitric oxide to help your blood vessels relax and open. They use the catheter to measure the pressure in the vessels. This is called "pulmonary artery catheterization."

Inhaled nitric oxide is also sometimes used to treat serious breathing problems.

What happens when getting nitric oxide? — 

Nitric oxide is given in the hospital.

If you are getting pulmonary artery catheterization:

●You will lie on a bed or table.

●The doctor will insert the catheter into a blood vessel, and measure the pressure.

●You will breathe in nitric oxide mixed with oxygen through a face mask or small prongs that go in your nose.

●The doctor will measure the pressure in your blood vessels again.

●During the test, the medical staff will monitor you for any problems.

When nitric oxide is used to treat serious breathing problems, the person is already on a ventilator (breathing machine). The ventilator is connected to a breathing tube, which goes down the throat and into the lungs. Nitric oxide can be given through the tube. Doctors usually only give nitric oxide for a day or 2. If it is used for longer, it will be stopped gradually, not all at once.

What happens after getting nitric oxide? — 

If you are getting pulmonary artery catheterization, you can probably go home and see your doctor for follow-up. Rarely, you might need to stay in the intensive care unit, or "ICU." There, the staff will monitor your oxygen levels and overall health.

More on this topic

Patient education: Pulmonary hypertension (The Basics)
Patient education: Pulmonary artery catheterization (The Basics)
Patient education: Breathing tubes and ventilators (The Basics)