| Abstract
| - Objective: The present study was performed to investigate the influence of different routes of perfusion on the distribution of the preservation solutions in the lung parenchyma and upper airways. Methods: Pigs were divided into four groups: control (n=6), pulmonary artery (PA) (n=6), simultaneous PA+bronchial artery (BA) (n=8), and retrograde delivery (n=6). After preparation and cannulation, cardioplegia solution and Euro-Collins solution (ECS) for lung preservation were given simultaneously. After removal of the heart, the double lung bloc was harvested. Following parameters were assessed: total and regional perfusion (dye-labeled microspheres), tissue water content, PA, aorta, left atrial and left ventricular pressures, cardiac output and lung temperature. Results: Our data show that flow of the ECS in lung parenchyma did not reach control values (9.4±1.0 ml/min per g lung wet weight) regardless of the route of delivery (PA 6.3±1.5, PA+BA 4.8±0.9, retrograde 2.7±0.9 ml/min per g lung wet weight). However, flow in the proximal and distal trachea were significantly increased by PA+BA delivery (0.970±0.4, respectively, 0.380±0.2 ml/min per g) in comparison with PA (0.023±0.007, respectively, 0.024±0.070 ml/min per g), retrograde (0.009±0.003, respectively, 0.021±0.006 ml/min per g) and control experiments (0.125±0.0018, respectively, 0.105±0.012 ml/g per min). Similarly the highest flow rates in the right main bronchus were achieved by PA+BA delivery (1.04±0.4 ml/min per g) in comparison with 0.11±0.03 in control, 0.033±0.008 in PA, and 0.019±0.005 ml/min per g in retrograde group. Flows in the left main bronchus were 0.09±0.02 ml/min per g in control, 0.045±0.012 ml/min per g in PA, and 0.027±0.006 ml/min per g in retrograde group. The flow rates were significantly (P=0.001) increased by PA+BA delivery of the storage solution (0.97±0.3 ml/min per g). Conclusions: Our data show that the distribution of ECS for lung preservation is significantly improved in airway tissues (trachea and bronchi) if a simultaneous PA+BA delivery is used.
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