The effect of β-2 adrenoreceptor agonist inhalation on lungs donated after cardiac death in a canine lung transplantation model.

BACKGROUND It is a matter of great importance in a donation after cardiac death to attenuate ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) related to the inevitable warm ischemic time. METHODS Donor dogs were rendered cardiac-dead and left at room temperature. The dogs were allocated into 2 groups: the β-2 group (n = 5) received an aerosolized β-2 adrenoreceptor agonist (procaterol, 350 μg) and ventilation with 100% oxygen for 60 minutes starting at 240 minutes after cardiac arrest, and the control group (n = 6) received an aerosolized control solvent with the ventilation. Lungs were recovered 300 minutes after cardiac arrest. Recipient dogs underwent left single-lung transplantation to evaluate the functions of the left transplanted lung for 240 minutes after the reperfusion. RESULTS Oxygenation and dynamic compliance were significantly higher in the β-2 group than in the control group. The β-2 group revealed significantly higher levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and high-energy phosphates in the donor lung after the inhalation than before it. Histologic findings revealed that the β-2 group had less edema and fewer inflammatory cells. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that β-2 adrenoreceptor agonist inhalation during the pre-procurement period may ameliorate IRI.