Efficacy of initial controlled perfusion pressure for ischemia-reperfusion injury in a 24-hour preserved lung

In lung transplantation, the safety period of the ischemic time of the graft is within 6 hours. Because of the problem of donor shortage, it is essential to extend the safety period of the preservation time of the donor lung. However, the longer the preservation time is, the more severe is the resulting ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of initial controlled perfusion pressure in the reduction of ischemia-reperfusion injury in a 24-hour preserved lung. Japanese white rabbit lungs were flushed with a low-potassium dextran solution (4C, 500 ml) after injection of prostaglandin E1 (20 microgram, bolus via PA) and submersed in the same solution for 24 hours at 4C. After preservation, the left lung was reperfused using an extracorporeal lung perfusion model which comprised of a closed circuit combined with a membrane deoxygenator. Assessment of lung function included gas analysis of influent and effluent blood and mean pulmonary artery perfusion pressure. Then the lung wet/dry weight ratio was calculated. In group I of the control group (n=6), the left lung was reperfused immediately following flushing (without preservation) at a flow rate of 50 ml/min for 60 minutes. In groups II and III, grafts were stored for 24 hours. In group II, grafts (n=6) were reperfused at a flow rate of 50 ml/min for 60 minutes. In group III (n =6), the flow rate was controlled by maintaining the perfusion pressure below 30 mmHg during the initial 5 minutes and was increased to 50 ml/min for the subsequent 60 minutes. In group II, the mean pulmonary artery pressure during perfusion increased rapidly, and oxygenation deteriorated. All grafts developed pulmonary edema within 12 minutes after reperfusion. Examination of the specimen revealed that the peripheral lung was not perfused. In group III, the mean pulmonary artery perfusion pressure was maintained below 30 mmHg, and oxygenation was preserved sufficiently throughout the experiment (delta PO2 > 100 mmHg) with no significant difference from control values. In conclusion, ischemia-reperfusion injury of the 24-hour preserved lung was attenuated prominently by controlling initial perfusion pressure for 5 minutes.