INFLUENCE OF PH OF PRESERVATION SOLUTION ON LUNG VIABILITY

Recently, various solutions for organ preservation have been introduce d. Despite much debate regarding the composition of preservation solut ions, the ideal pH of a preservation solution has not been determined. We investigated the effects of the pH of a lung preservation solution on viability using an isolated, ventilated lung perfusion model. Init ially, we performed flush perfusion with solutions of five different p H groups (6.60, 7.00, 7.40, 7.80 and 8.20, measured at 10 degrees C). Lungs perfused with pH 6.60 solution had a significantly higher pulmon ary vascular resistance than those perfused with pH 7.40, 7.80 and 8.2 0 solutions. Blood was washed out completely and uniformly with soluti ons of pH 7.40 and 7.80. After preservation the arterial oxygen tensio n was significantly greater in pH 7.40 and 7.80 groups than in pH 6.60 , 7.00, or 8.20 groups. Moreover, pulmonary artery pressure, airway pr essure, and wet/dry weight ratios in the pH 7.40 and 7.80 groups were lower than in the others. We conclude that for both pulmonary flush an d storage preservation, solutions of pH 7.40 to pH 7.80 are optimal fo r lung preservation.