Influence of oxygen in inflation gas during lung ischemia on ischemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies have reported that hyperinflation during lung ischemia improves pulmonary function after reperfusion. However, it has not been clarified whether hyperinflation itself or oxygen in inflation gas causes good pulmonary function. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of oxygen in pulmonary inflation gas during lung ischemia on ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods: Twenty-one mongrel dogs were randomly divided into three groups: the lung during a 90-minute period of warm ischemia was inflated to 30 cm H 2O with 100% oxygen in group A and 100% nitrogen in group B; it was not inflated in group C. Pulmonary function and hemodynamics were measured before ischemia and 1,2, and 3 hours after reperfusion. Total protein and phosphorous of phospholipid in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured 210 minutes after reperfusion. Results: No significant differences in pulmonary function and hemodynamics were noted between group A and group B, but these two groups had significantly better pulmonary function and hemodynamics than group C. No significant differences were detected in the concentrations of total protein and phosphorus of phospholipids in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and in adenine nucleotide levels of lung tissue after reperfusion among the three groups. Conclusions: The results indicate that pulmonary inflation during warm ischemia improves pulmonary function and hemodynamics after reperfusion in this model. The effect is caused by inflation itself and is not due to oxygen as a metabolic substrate during warm ischemia. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;114: 332-8)