Pulmonary preservation with Bretscheider's HTK and Celsior solution in minipigs.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary preservation with high potassium/low oncotic pressure Euro-Collins (EC) solution is associated with endothelial dysfunction and reduced surfactant function. We compared two low potassium solutions, histidine-tryptophane-ketoglutarate (HTK) and Celsior, to EC in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury.

METHODS: In 19 minipigs, the left lung was perfused in situ with cold preservation solution (EC, n=6; HTK, n=6; Celsior, n=7). Reperfusion was started after 90 min of warm ischemia. The right pulmonary artery and main bronchus were clamped. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was obtained before ischemia and after 2 h of reperfusion. Surfactant activity was determined from the BAL in a pulsating bubble surfactometer.

RESULTS: Animals in the EC group survived 3.7+/-1.4 h. Six Celsior and five HTK treated animals survived the observation period of 7 h (P<0.001). Compliance of the reperfused lung deteriorated less in both Celsior and HTK groups (P<0.001). In EC and HTK animals, the pO(2)/FiO(2) ratio was lower (P=0.002), and pulmonary vascular resistance was higher (P=0.02) than in Celsior animals. Surfactant function was impaired after reperfusion in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Compared to EC, HTK solution showed moderate and Celsior distinct improvement of post-ischemic pulmonary function. However, surfactant function was not well preserved in any group.