Nitric oxide for the treatment of postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema.

Inhaled nitric oxide, a selective pulmonary vasodilator, has been used to improve arterial oxygenation in adult respiratory distress syndrome. To our knowledge, it has not been successfully used to treat this syndrome after major lung resection. We used nitric oxide to treat postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema with immediate and sustained improvement in oxygenation. The patient was successfully weaned from nitric oxide and extubated after 3 days of supportive therapy.