Protocols for nitric oxide (NO) inhalation

[RoadRunner]

There's a great debate where I work on the precautions we should take when treating a patient with NO since it might be toxic for pregnant women. We have no specific guidelines other than "if you think your pregnant, you won't take care of this patient" and we place a caution sign on the patient's door.

Do any of you use special precautions when treating a patient with NO inhalation ? Are the patients put in isolated rooms? Do you have a protocol?

Thanks for your input!

[darienblythe79]

I work in a large teaching hospital in Houston. We do have a protocol for NO, but it is for the use and titration of NO. We do not have any restrictons to who may be assigned to the patient except for the typical acuity of that type of patient. We do not isolate the patients or restrict pregnant women. As far as I know, there is not an immediate danger as it is in a closed system. Hope this helps.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

We don't isolate the patients, but we don't allow pregnant women to take them either, or be in the room. Sometimes the bag can accidently get left on after we have to bag someone and then it is free in the air. It can bind with the fetus hemoglobin, so we don't even chance it. This came down from the head of our peds/neonatal units. We follow respiratory's protocol since we really don't do much with them in regards to the NO and the vent.