Oral Sildenafil in Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Meconium Aspiration Syndrome in Newborns

Patients were randomized into two groups. Placebo was prepared with distilled water. In group A, newborns received oral Sildenafil solution through feeding tube which was prepared by crushing a 50 mg tablet of sildenafil in distilled water to make a concentration of 5 mg/ml. In group B, newborns received placebo. The protocol for dosing was (1) first dose of 1 mg/kg/dose within 30 minutes admission or within 12 hours of delivery (whichever earlier), (2) Dosing every six hours for a maximum of 8 doses, (3) Dose was doubled if the oxygenation index (OI) or SpO2 did not improve (If OI continued to be \<10% of previous value and SpO2 was not increasing \>5 of previous value) and blood pressure remained stable

Distill water oral