Bronchial mucus after lung autotransplantation in dogs

Abstract

Mucus transport in the bronchi of normal and autotransplanted dog lungs was studied with radioisotopic and radiographic methods. There is impaired mucus transport on the operated side in the early postoperative period. Recovery usually occurred within 1 month. Radiologic study of clearance of barium sulfate paste showed the same time course as the radioisotopic method. The exact mechanism(s) producing the impaired bronchial clearance remain unknown, but denervation seems unlikely to be the major pathogenetic factor because of the relatively rapid rate of recovery during the period of persistent denervation.