Manipal Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) has launched 'Nitric Oxide Therapy' to treat infants suffering from severe respiratory failure due to Pulmonary Hypertension. For babies with Hypoxic Respiratory Failure (HRF), the Nitric Oxide Therapy is a boon. Newborns whose lungs have a persistent pulmonary hypertension cannot deliver enough oxygen to their bodies. The Nitric Oxide Therapy helps them recover well.

The 18-year-old NICU at Manipal Hospital is one of the largest in the country and is now acclaimed as the major referral centre for sick neonates and high-risk pregnancies. The hospital claims that the Nitric Oxide Therapy is a first-of-its-kind offering in south India.

In order to offer the maximum support of the infants, the NICU also has introduced a 'neonatal Parents Support Group' and a 'neonatal helpline' for doctors. This service will help parents of critically ill babies to provide counselling by paediatricians and emotional succour by connecting them to other families who have dealt with a similar situation earlier.

The neonatal helpline for doctors will allow the parents to access to neonatal specialists, gynaecologists, perinatologists or foetal medicine specialists and paediatricians across the country via its a 24-hour helpline set up at Manipal Hospital NICU. Doctors can call on the helpline number +91-9900115923 and seek clinical support from a specialist neonatologist 24/7, all through the year.

The Nitric Oxide therapy will help us treat babies with persistent pulmonary hypertension with lesser complications and the service will be offered to babies being referred from other hospital NICUs also, stated Dr N Karthik Nagesh, head, Neonatology Division.

"The helpline is aimed towards Doctors, paediatricians and Obstetricians who deal with high risk pregnancy and newborns. The advice will be free of cost by specialists in neonatology round the clock, informed Dr Arvind Shenoi consultant Neonatology and HOD-Paediatrics.