1 Department of Pediatrics, McGill University and the Medical Service of the Montreal Children's Hospital Montreal 25, Canada
We should like to comment on the letter by Dr. Cotton regarding the use of tolazoline HCL (Priscoline) in the management of Hyaline Membrane Disease (Pediatrics, 36:149, 1965) and to report our own experience with its use.
The theoretical basis for the use of such therapy is based upon the role of pulmonary asoconstniction and subsequent hypoperfusion of the lung as a central pathologic mechanism n the disease.1 In suggesting this mechanism, it is proposed that acetylcholine, as well as both the inhalation of oxygen and the rapid orrection of acidemia with bicarbonate will ilate the pulmonary vessels.