Inhaled nitric oxide therapy for preterm infants after 7 days of age: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) use is recommended for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in term and late preterm infants. Recently, iNO therapy to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or rescue for hypoxic respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension secondary to BPD has increasingly been used in preterm infants after 7 days of postnatal age (in the postacute phase), despite its off-label use. However, the initiation criteria of iNO therapy for preterm infants in the postacute phase are varied. The aim of this scoping review is to identify the clinical and/or echo findings at the initiation of iNO therapy in preterm infants in the postacute phase.
Methods and Analysis: We will search PubMed, Embase and the Japanese database 'Ichushi.' The following studies will be included in the review: randomised controlled trials, prospective/retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies and case series on iNO therapy for preterm infants in the postacute phase; studies published between January 2003 and August 2023; studies conducted in developed countries and studies written in English or Japanese. We will independently screen, extract and chart data using the population-concept-context framework following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. We will summarise the characteristics and findings of the included studies.
Ethics and Dissemination: Obtaining an institutional review board approval is not required because of the nature of this review. A final report of review findings will be published and disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and presentation at relevant conferences.
Trial Registration Number: UMIN000051498.
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