A modified ex-vivo rabbit lung reperfusion model for the study of lung preservation techniques

Extracorporeal reperfusion models have proved to be particularly useful for the experimental assessment of donor lung preservation techniques. One disadvantage of the models employed to date is what with the low reperfusion rates used, any minimal lung damage is compensated for and is thus not detected or at least not detected promptly. By permitting reperfusion at physiological flow rates, use of a membrane deoxygenator in a closed circuit permits early detection of damage due to ischaemia or reperfusion. A modified ex-vivo reperfusion model is presented which permits assessment of lung function under almost physiological conditions after varying periods of ischaemia and varying conditions of preservation.