Influence of dextrans on lung preservation: is the molecular weight important?
BACKGROUND
The addition of dextran with a molecular weight of 40,000 Dalton in pulmonary preservation solutions has proved to be beneficial. However, dextrans of other size have not yet been investigated. Therefore, it is unclear whether dextran 40,000 represents the optimal additive for lung preservation solutions.


METHODS
In a working rat heart-lung model, lung were preserved with regular Euro-Collins solution or with Euro-Collins solution containing 5% dextran of different sizes: 40,000 Dalton molecular weight; 70,000 Dalton molecular weight; 160,000 Dalton molecular weight. After 2 hours of ischemia functional (oxygenation; pulmonary vascular resistance) and structural (wet/dry-ratio, light microscopy) data were assessed and the amount of dextran in the lung tissue was measured.


RESULTS
Lungs preserved with Euro-Collins solution 70,000 Dalton molecular weight or Euro-Collins solution 160,000 Dalton molecular weight exhibited superior functional and structural results when compared with Euro-Collins solution and Euro-Collins solution 40,000 Dalton molecular weight. Additionally, the least amount of dextran in the lung tissue was found in organs preserved with Euro-Collins solution 160,000 Dalton molecular weight after ischemia and reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Dextrans are useful additives for lung preservation solutions. However, the size of the molecules is important because dextrans of 160,000 Dalton molecular weight were superior to dextrans of lower molecular weight in our study.
Fukuse
T
T
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University, Japan.
Albes
J M
JM
Wilhelm
A
A
Bando
T
T
Fischer
F
F
Hausen
B
B
Rohde
R
R
Wahlers
T
T
Schäfers
H J
HJ
D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants; D003911:Dextrans; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000502:physiology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D009929:Organ Size; D010952:Plasma Substitutes; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000925:Anticoagulants; D003911:Dextrans; C037096:Euro-Collins' solution; D006982:Hypertonic Solutions; D019188:Organ Preservation Solutions; D010952:Plasma Substitutes