Sequential bilateral isolated lung perfusion in the rat: an experimental model.
BACKGROUND
A model of isolated single-lung perfusion in the rat has been established in our laboratory to study the chemotherapeutic treatment of pulmonary metastases. A sequential bilateral isolated lung perfusion model was designed to investigate the feasibility of staged perfusions in the rat.


METHODS
Twenty-four Fischer rats were randomized into three experimental groups of 8 rats each. All rats underwent left isolated lung perfusion. One, 2, or 3 weeks later, the rats in groups I, II, and III, respectively, underwent contralateral (right) perfusion. Five control animals (group IV) underwent sequential bilateral sham thoracotomies 1 week apart. Arterial blood gas analysis was performed 1 week after the second operation in the rats in groups I and IV.


RESULTS
All animals survived the first operation, with 100% (8/8), 75% (6/8), and 100% (8/8) of the animals in perfusion groups I, II, and III, respectively, surviving the second operation. All control animals (group IV) survived the second sham thoracotomy. Arterial blood gas analysis did not show a significant difference in the oxygen or carbon dioxide partial pressure or the pH between group I and IV (p = 0.32, 0.96, and 0.76, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our experiments demonstrate that sequential bilateral isolated lung perfusion is safe in and well tolerated by the rat. This model can be used to investigate the safety and efficacy of staged perfusions with chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of bilateral pulmonary metastases in the rat.
Nawata
S
S
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10021, USA.
Abolhoda
A
A
Ross
H M
HM
Brooks
A
A
Burt
M E
ME
D000818:Animals; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary