Nebulized Magnesium Sulfate and Sildenafil for Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of Newborn

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn (PPHN) is a serious condition that results from failure of the normal postnatal circulatory transition and is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Advanced medical treatment, such as inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), high-frequency ventilation (HFV), and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are commonly not available in developing countries. Intravenous magnesium sulfate has been shown to alleviate pulmonary hypertension but is associated with systemic hypotension and is less effective compared with iNO and sildenafil. Nebulized magnesium sulfate has been reported to be more effective and safer compared with intravenous magnesium sulfate in treating neonates with PPHN on mechanical ventilation. Combined nebulized magnesium and sildenafil has been studied in a small trial on spontaneously breathing neonates with PPHN but not on those connected to mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of nebulized magnesium sulfate combined with sildenafil citrate, compared with sildenafil citrate alone, in treating neonates with severe PPHN on mechanical ventilation. We hypothesize that neonates with severe PPHN connected to mechanical ventilation could benefit from taking continuous nebulization of magnesium sulfate combined besides sildenafil.