The effect of chlorpromazine in severe hypoxia in newborn infants.

Eighteen newborn infants with severe hypoxia during the course of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, persistent fetal circulation or right diaphragmatic hernia were treated with chlorpromazine with the aim of improving arterial oxygenation by a postulated vasodilatory action on the pulmonary circulation. Fourteen of the infants improved their PaO2 during the treatment. Nine infants died. The systemic arterial blood-pressure and the urinary output were reduced and some infants were somnolent during the initial period of treatment. No other side effects were noted. Further studies of chlorpromazine as a possible pulmonary vasodilator in newborn infants are justified.