Closed circuit perfusion of an isolated rabbit lung *1A new model for the evaluation of preservation quality of stored lungs

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Abstract
The comparison of different preservation methods in lung transplantationdemands a well standardized and reproducible animal model. The aim of thisstudy was to establish as in vitro model in which the oxygenation capacityof the lung can be investigated over an extended period of time. Heart-lungblocks from 6 New Zealand white rabbits were harvested, the pulmonaryartery and the left ventricle cannulated and the lungs perfused with wholerabbit blood by means of a roller pump and ventilated with room air. Adialyser was installed into the closed circuit perfusion for continuousdeoxygenation of the oxygen- saturated blood gained from the leftventricle. Throughout the stable perfusion period the average arterial andvenous partial oxygen pressure (pO2) levels were 105.8 +/- 15.5 mmHg and55.2 +/- 6.2, respectively (P < 0.05). The average peak airway pressuresteadily increased from 10.7 +/- 1.2 mmHg at the start of reperfusion to 21+/- 14.4 mmHg after 180 minutes (P = NS). With this experimental setting itis possible to maintain stable conditions (i.e. constant venous andarterial blood gases) for at least 180 minutes. It is therefore feasible tocompare the influences of different preservation methods on the quality oflung function.

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