[Studies of pulmonary ultrastructure after delayed autotransplantation and up-to-24-hour preservation under hypothermia].

After delayed lung autotransplantation with preservation up to 2 hours at +4 degrees C unessential ultrastructural alterations of the alveoli were observed. These alterations were more expressed after preservation for 24 hours, after which time edema of cells and structural elements of the aveoli were seen. This edema causes a lowered diffusion and disturbed function at the air-blood barrier. In a later period after delayed autografting with preservation up to 2, resp. 24 hours, structural and functional recovering of the autotransplanted lung occurred, proving that the organ was not grossly damaged and the changes arising at operation were reversible.