Which gas is FDA approved for treatment in term and near term infants with hypoxic respiratory failure?

The approval of nitric oxide for treating term and near-term infants with hypoxic respiratory failure is based on its ability to selectively dilate pulmonary blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygenation to the lungs. In conditions like hypoxic respiratory failure, the lungs do not effectively exchange gases, leading to inadequate oxygen levels in the bloodstream. Nitric oxide helps reduce pulmonary vascular resistance, thereby enhancing gas exchange and improving the overall oxygenation status of infants who are experiencing respiratory distress.

While oxygen is a crucial treatment for various respiratory conditions, its use is more general and not specifically approved for the indicated treatment of hypoxic respiratory failure in infants in the same targeted manner as nitric oxide. Carbon dioxide is typically not used as a therapeutic gas in this context, and helium is usually utilized in specific respiratory conditions requiring low-density gas for easier ventilation rather than for treating hypoxic respiratory failure directly. Hence, the unique therapeutic action of nitric oxide in improving pulmonary function and oxygenation specifically in this vulnerable patient group makes it the correct choice.