[Effects of ischemic preconditioning on protection of canine donor lung]

The authors examined the effects of ischemic preconditioning on lung preservation using a canine single left lung transplantation. Twelve adult mongrel dogs underwent left lung allotransplantation. Donor lungs were perfused and flushed with cold Euro-Collins solution (ECS) and stored at 4 degrees C ECS for 2 hours. Six donors were preconditioned by occuluding left lung hilum for 10 minutes and releasing for 15 minutes before flushing (Group PC); other six donors without ischemic preconditioning served as the controls (Group C). Left inferior pulmonary vein blood gas analysis, mean pulmonary artery pressure measurement and donor lung histology examination were made to evaluate the function of transplanted lung after transplantation. Oxygen tension at 2 hrs after reperfusion were significantly better in Group PC than in Group C (431 +/- 130 mmHg vs 246 +/- 66 mmHg, P < 0.05); mean pulmonary artery pressure was much lower in Group PC than in Group C after reperfusion (20.6 +/- 1.3 mmHg vs 36.9 +/- 3.1 mmHg, P < 0.01). Histological findings showed less injury in Group PC. These indicate that ischemic preconditioning combined with cold ECS perfusion is superior to cold ECS perfusion alone in canine lung preservation of 3 hours ischemia with 2 hours reperfusion.