Lung Ischemia Up to Six Hours; Influence of Local Cooling In Situ on Subsequent Pulmonary Function

¹ Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Medical School

Twenty-five dogs were subjected to unilateral lung ischemia in situ for periods of two, four, or six hours at local lung temperatures of 37°C., 25°C. or 10°C. No animal survived six hours of lung ischemia at 37°C., but all survived six hours of ischemia at 10°C. Survivors were subjected to contralateral pneumonectomy. Most dogs with lung ischemia of six hours duration at local temperatures of 10°C. survived the second thoracotomy and had subsequent good arterial oxygen saturation, thus demonstrating adequate pulmonary function.