Intratracheally administered corticosteroids improve lung function in meconium-instilled rabbits

Local administration of corticosteroids may diminish acute lung injury associated with meconium aspiration. Budesonide was given intratracheally in 2 doses of 0.25 mg/kg each by means of inpulsion effect of high-frequency jet ventilation 0.5 and 2.5 hours after meconium instillation to oxygen-ventilated adult rabbits. Within 5 hours after the first dose, budesonide significantly improved gas exchange and decreased right-to-left pulmonary shunts, central venous pressure, and ventilatory pressures. In addition, budesonide reduced the meconium-induced lung edema formation, airway hyperreactivity to histamine, count of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid associated with higher total white blood cell and neutrophil counts in the blood, and diminished oxidative modifications of proteins and lipids in lung tissue compared to non-treated meconium-instilled group. The intratracheally administered corticosteroid budesonide effectively improved pulmonary functions and alleviated changes associated with inflammation in meconium-instilled rabbits.