Evaluation of Various Fluids for the Perfusion of the Canine Pulmonary Lobes

¹ Institut de Cardiologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval
² Pathologist, Hôpital Laval
³ Director of thoracic surgery, Hôpital Laval
⁴ Thoracic surgeon, Hôpital Laval

1. Perfusions of pulmonary lobes for prolonged periods with either saline solutions, high molecular dextrans or blood results in a high morbidity and mortality.

2. Mixtures of blood with low molecular dextran (Rheomacrodex) and/or 5 per cent solution of glucose has greatly reduced the severity of pulmonary complications and mortality and has allowed longer periods of perfusions.

3. The improved results in the last two groups are probably due to a great extent to the antisludging properties of low molecular dextran. This solution seems to prevent the development of intravascular clotting without producing any noticeable bleeding tendencies.

4. Low molecular dextran seems therefore to produce an improvement in the microcirculation of the lungs with a consequent decrease in pulmonary complications such as intravascular thrombosis, pulmonary intravascular shunts and intra-alveolar edema and atelectasis.