The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Aug 2013
Postmortem and ex vivo carbon monoxide ventilation reduces injury in rat lungs transplanted from non-heart-beating donors.
We sought to determine whether ventilation of lungs after death in non-heart-beating donors with carbon monoxide during warm ischemia and ex vivo lung perfusion and after transplant would reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury and improve lung function. ⋯ Administration of carbon monoxide to the deceased donor and non-heart-beating donor lungs reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat lungs transplanted from non-heart-beating donors. Therapy to the deceased donor via the airway may improve post-transplant lung function.