Administering Nitric Oxide (NO) with High Flow Nasal Cannulas: A Simple Method

Abstract

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is a pulmonary vasodilator that plays an important clinical ICU role. The administration of iNO is usually performed through an endotracheal tube, but spontaneously breathing patients might also benefit from iNO administration. The use of the non-invasive administration of iNO through high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) allows for NO delivery in spontaneously breathing patients who still need supplemental oxygen and positive airway pressure. A simple method to administer NO through HFNC is described here using standard commercially available NO administration and HFNC.

Keywords

• nitric oxide
• pediatric intensive care unit
• pulmonary hypertension
• high-flow nasal cannula