Nitric oxide administration during paediatric cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomised controlled trial

Purpose Cardiopulmonary bypass induces an ischaemia–reperfusion injury and systemic inflammatory response, which contributes to low cardiac output syndrome following cardiac surgery. Exogenous nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass has shown potential to ameliorate such injury. We undertook a large randomised controlled trial to investigate the clinical effects of administering nitric oxide to the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit in children.