Preservation of competent rabbit lung function after 30 hours of storage with a low-potassium dextran solution.
BACKGROUND
The goal of organ preservation is maintenance of physiologic functions during extended extracorporeal storage.


METHODS
This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of using low-potassium (4 mmol/L) dextran (1%) solution on lung function after 30 hours hypothermic (10 degrees C) storage and to compare this with lung function after no storage. With low-potassium dextran solution rabbit lungs were flushed (10 degrees C, 40 ml/kg, 60 cm H2O), excised, inflated (with room air), and either not stored (control; no preservation; n = 9) or stored in low-potassium dextran solution (10 degrees C) 30 hours (experimental group; n = 9).


RESULTS
During the flush the infusion pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance for the two groups did not differ (17.56 +/- 1.3 versus 16.74 +/- 1.5 mm Hg/ml/sec). After either no preservation or after 30 hours of storage, the lungs were first reperfused with low-potassium dextran solution (37 degrees C) for 4 minutes and then with blood (37 degrees C) for 30 minutes at 100 ml/min. During the reperfusion period the mean pulmonary artery pressure and end-inspiratory airway pressure for the control and experimental groups did not differ. After reperfusion the wet and dry weights of the left lung were determined. The wet/dry ratio for the two groups did not differ (5.32 +/- 2.20 versus 4.70 +/- 2.70, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that cold flush, cold storage, and initial warm perfusion with low-potassium dextran solution crystalloid preserve lung function after 30 hours of storage.
Moriyasu
K
K
Department of Surgery, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612, USA.
McKeown
P P
PP
Novitzky
D
D
Snow
T R
TR
D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003911:Dextrans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D011188:Potassium; D011817:Rabbits; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
D003911:Dextrans; D011188:Potassium