Pathophysiology and Management of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

Abstract

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a disorder of circulatory transition resulting in high pulmonary vascular resistance with extrapulmonary right-to-left shunts causing hypoxemia. There has been substantial gain in understanding of pathophysiology of PPHN over the past 2 decades, and biochemical pathways responsible for abnormal vasoconstriction of pulmonary vasculature are now better understood. Easy availability of bedside echocardiography helps in establishing early definitive diagnosis, understanding the pathophysiology and hemodynamic abnormalities, monitoring the disease process, and response to therapeutic intervention. There also has been significant advancement in specific management of PPHN targeted at deranged biochemical pathways and hemodynamic instability.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Inhaled nitric oxide; Oxygen; Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN); Term infant.