Treatment for persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns includes medication and mechanical ventilation. Causes involve genetic, environmental, physiological, traumatic, and pathological factors. Treatment methods include the use of inhaled nitric oxide, sildenafil, prostaglandin E1, and mechanical ventilation such as high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, conventional ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Etiological analysis considers genetic factors such as gene mutations, environmental factors such as maternal infection or drug exposure, physiological factors such as incomplete transformation of the fetal circulatory system, trauma such as birth injury, and pathological factors such as congenital heart disease or lung disease.
Among genetic factors, gene mutations may lead to abnormal pulmonary artery development, increasing pulmonary artery pressure. Among environmental factors, maternal infections or exposure to certain medications during pregnancy may affect the normal development of fetal pulmonary vessels. Among physiological factors, the failure of the fetus's pulmonary vessels to adapt to the external environment promptly after birth can lead to pulmonary hypertension. Among traumatic factors, birth injuries may directly damage pulmonary vessels, triggering hypertension. Among pathological factors, congenital heart disease or lung diseases such as pulmonary dysplasia directly affect pulmonary vascular function.
In treatment methods, inhaled nitric oxide can dilate pulmonary blood vessels and reduce pulmonary artery pressure. Sildenafil increases vascular smooth muscle relaxation by inhibiting phosphodiesterase. Prostaglandin E1 also has a vasodilatory effect. In mechanical ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation improves gas exchange through high-frequency vibration, conventional ventilation assists breathing with a conventional ventilator, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supports cardiopulmonary function through extracorporeal circulation.
The causes of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns are complex and the treatment methods are diverse. Early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment are key. Parents should pay close attention to the newborn's breathing and seek medical attention promptly.