A systematic study of hypothermic lung preservation solutions: Euro-Collins solution.
BACKGROUND
Testing lung function after preservation is difficult because a suitable model is still lacking; thus, the effectiveness of different solutions for lung preservation has not been confirmed. This study tested the effectiveness of Euro-Collins solution alone for hypothermic preservation of rat lungs.


METHODS
A living rat perfusion model was used, which allowed more than 5 hours of continuous perfusion for isolated lung function studies. Group 1 lungs (control, n = 8) were tested without preservation. In groups 2 through 6 (n = 8 lungs each), the lungs were flushed with 4 degrees C Euro-Collins solution and preserved for 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 hours, respectively. Lung function studies were carried out after preservation.


RESULTS
In groups 1 and 2, pulmonary arterial blood flow and pulmonary venous oxygen tension were higher and pulmonary resistance was lower than in the other groups. Airway pressure and resistance were lowest in group 1. Lungs in groups 5 and 6 demonstrated the worst function, but the lung tissue wet to dry ratio was higher only in group 6.


CONCLUSIONS
At 4 degrees C, Euro-Collins solution can effectively preserve rat lungs for 4 hours. Six to 8 hours of preservation resulted in depressed lung function. More than 12 hours of preservation resulted in uniformly deficient lung function, rendering the lungs unsuitable for transplantation.
Wu
G
G
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, USA.
Zhang
F
F
Salley
R K
RK
Robinson
M C
MC
Chien
S
S
D000403:Airway Resistance; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D009929:Organ Size; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010477:Perfusion; D011312:Pressure; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D011667:Pulmonary Veins; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D014655:Vascular Resistance
C037096:Euro-Collins' solution; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D010100:Oxygen