Viagra on Newborns

Viagra which caught the media attention years before as a drug to correct erectile dysfunction now again made news for saving three critical new born babies suffering from pulmonary hypertension. This is a disease caused by narrowing of blood vessels supplying the lungs, a grave threat to life. Dr. P. K. Rajiv, Head of Department of New Born Intensive Care Unit Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences Kochi, India saved three neonates from the hands of certain death by the administration of Viagra. The powerful Sildenafil Citrate otherwise well known as Viagra is licensed under medical supervision only as an anti-impotency drug.

British Medical Journal has reported Dr.Rajiv's use of sildenafil in newborn has been one of its kind in the world.New Scientist magazine reports that Viagra has been used on infants around the world. Even 8 hours old ailing babies are given the drug at Boston Children's Hospital and Toronto's Hospital. Comparing with the standard inhaled nitric oxide treatment, sildenafil citrate is reported to have better results. Sildenafil citrate works by boosting nitric oxide metabolism in the pulmonary artery and prevents the existing nitric oxide in the lung from being destroyed,leading to dilatation of the same.