Unilateral administration of a drug into the lung of a small animal.
BACKGROUND
The selective unilateral administration of drugs into a single lung of a rat is difficult because of the small airway diameter. Therefore, a simple method for unilateral administration into rat lung is needed.


METHODS
Rats were assigned to 1 of 2 groups according to the direction of the catheter used for drug administration. Anesthetized rats were intubated, and curved epidural catheters were rotated up to a maximum of 90 degrees toward the left lung (group L) or right lung (group R). Bronchial catheters were then inserted via a tracheal tube and fixed. Methylene blue (0.3 ml) was injected via the epidural catheter. Additionally, to compare survival rates, rats were assigned to one of two groups according to the drug administration route. In group T, bleomycin hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) in 0.3 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was administrated into the lung intratracheally via a tracheal tube. In group B, the same dose of bleomycin was administrated into the lung intrabronchially via a bronchial catheter, targeting the left lung.


RESULTS
Gross examination revealed that targeted administration was 100% successful. Methylene blue was observed in the right lung of all rats in the R group and in the left lung of all rats in the L group. The survival rate was higher in group B than in group T.


CONCLUSIONS
The intrabronchial method offers an advantage over tracheal administration as it decreases mortality and allows the administration of a drug unilaterally into a single lung or into a localized area without the need for double-lumen tubes or more invasive procedures.
Cheong
Soon Ho
SH
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Paik Hospital, Inje University, Busan, Korea.
Yang
Young Il
YI
Seo
Jie Yeon
JY
Jun
Dong Hwa
DH
Ko
Myoung Jin
MJ
Cho
Kwang Rae
KR
Lee
Sang Eun
SE
Kim
Young Hwan
YH
Lim
Se Hun
SH
Lee
Jeong Han
JH
Lee
Kun Moo
KM