Case Report : Maintenance of nitric oxide inhalation to a patient with hemoperitonium and acute respiratory distress syndrome during anesthesia

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is occasionally used to treat hypoxemia for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, it is controversial whether or not to maintain inhalation of NO during general anesthesia because of complications, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) production, methemoglobinemia, and inhibition of platelet aggregation. In this case, a 67-year-old male fell from a roof and was brought to an emergency care center. During management, he vomited gastric contents and aspirated. In spite of tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with high oxygen therapy, the hypoxia did not improve. NO inhalation with mechanical ventilation was performed to treat hypoxemia due to ARDS in the ICU. We maintained the NO inhalation during the surgery for a hemoperitonium. The surgery was completed without intra-operative hemodynamic instability or any complications. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2010; 58: 485-489)