31P nuclear magnetic resonance determination of changes in energy state in lung preservation

The significance of dynamic changes in energy state during lung harvesting and preservation has not been extensively studied. Phosphorus 31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra at 81 MHz were obtained from degassed rabbit lungs. Changes in the adenosine 5'-triphosphate-to-inorganic phosphate peak-intensity ratios were used to measure changes in energy state. Two groups of rabbit preparations were studied to evaluate the effect of hypothermia during the initial 120 minutes of harvesting (n = 8 at 36 degrees C and n = 5 at 4 degrees C). The significance of these changes was assessed in a second experiment in which lungs were reperfused in vitro at selected intervals of hypothermia (5, 12, and 24 hours) and assessed for injury. Hypothermic preservation sustained a significantly higher energy state. The depletion of energy state was correlated with injury, particularly as measured by lung edema (r2 = -0.715). Short periods of warm ischemia (30 minutes) result in a significant depletion of energy state, which may be a component of pulmonary injury during harvesting and preservation.