Influence of the perfusate temperature on lung preservation: is there an optimum?

The optimal temperature of the pulmonary flush perfusate is still a matter of controversy. At present, a temperature of 10 degrees C is favored. This study deals with the structural and functional impact of different perfusate temperatures on lung preservation. In an extracorporeal rat heart-lung model lungs were preserved with Perfadex solution of 4, 15 and 25 degrees C and submitted to 2 h ischemia. Heart-lung blocks harvested from male rats were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution and ventilated with room air. Lungs were perfused with deoxygenated perfusate via the working right ventricle while the coronary arteries were retrogradely perfused with oxygenated perfusate. Oxygenation capacity (dPO2), peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and pulmonary vascular resistance were measured. After establishment of baseline functional parameters hearts were arrested with 10 ml St. Thomas cardioplegia and lungs were flushed with 20 ml Perfadex solution. The heart-lung block was then stored for 2 h at 10 degrees C. Reperfusion was performed thereafter under the same conditions. At the end of the trial the lung tissue water was measured by the wet/dry ratio. The perfusion time of the groups flushed with 15 or 25 degrees C perfusate was significantly lower than that of the 4 degrees C group. After 20 min reperfusion dPO2 of the groups flushed with 15 or 25 degrees C was superior to those submitted to a 4 degrees C flush perfusion. PIP was significantly lower in the 15 degrees C group than in the 4 and 25 degrees C groups. The wet/dry ratio revealed the smallest water content in the 15 degrees C group. We conclude that the post-ischemic lung function is dependent on the temperature of the flush perfusate. Among the tested temperatures, perfusion at 15 degrees C showed the best results. The optimum may therefore lie in this range.