Reperfusion of ischemic lower limbs increases pulmonary microvascular permeability

Lower torso ischemia and reperfusion has been shown to stimulate the generation of thromboxane (Tx)A2, leading to transient pulmonary hypertension and later to polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulations in the lungs. This study investigated whether hind limb ischemia leads to increased pulmonary microvascular permeability. Anesthetized sheep (n = 6) previously prepared with a lung lymph fistula underwent 2 hr of tourniquet ischemia of both lower limbs. One minute following tourniquet release mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP) rose from 14 +/- 1 to 36 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0.05) and returned to baseline within 30 min. The pulmonary arterial wedge pressure of 4 +/- 1 mm Hg was unchanged. Plasma TxB2 levels rose from 211 +/- 21 to 304 +/- 52 pg/ml (p less than 0.05) 10 min after tourniquet release and were back to baseline at 30 min. Lymph flow (QL) rose from 4.3 +/- 0.6 ml/30 min to 8.3 +/- 1.8 ml/30 min (p less than 0.05); the lymph/plasma (L/P) protein ratio rose slightly but not significantly. In three sheep, inflation of a left atrial balloon increased left atrial pressure from 3 to 16 mm Hg. MPAP rose from 14 to 24 mm Hg. There was an increase in QL from 3.6 to 17 ml/30 min; the L/P protein ratio declined from 0.63 to 0.41. These results indicate that reperfusion following 2 hr of bilateral hind limb ischemia results in increased pulmonary microvascular permeability.