When can Nitric Oxide be safely discontinued?

The correct choice indicates that Nitric Oxide therapy can be safely discontinued when the patient is stable at less than 1-2 parts per million (ppm). This is because a stable level of Nitric Oxide at this range typically suggests that the patient has shown adequate improvement in their pulmonary hypertension or associated conditions.

In clinical practice, Nitric Oxide is administered for its pulmonary vasodilatory effects, often in cases of neonatal hypoxic respiratory failure or pulmonary hypertension. Once the patient's oxygenation and hemodynamics are stable, the dosage is gradually reduced with careful monitoring. A stable state at less than 1-2 ppm suggests that the patient is responding favorably to treatment and does not require higher concentrations for therapeutic effects any longer.

Other options do not reflect appropriate clinical protocols for the use of Nitric Oxide therapy. For instance, discontinuing the treatment when there are no signs of improvement does not consider the individual stability of the patient; likewise, daily cigarette consumption and arbitrary timelines do not relate specifically to the assessment criteria used for determining the discontinuation of Nitric Oxide.