EFFECTS OF IBUPROFEN ON AIRWAY VASCULAR-RESPONSE TO COTTON SMOKE INJURY

We studied the effects of ibuprofen on bronchial blood flow and myocar dial function after inhalation injury. Sheep (n = 12) were chronically instrumented with cardiovascular and pulmonary catheters. After 5 day s of recovery period, baseline data were collected and the sheep were divided into two groups. Group S (n = 6) were insufflated with 48 brea ths of cotton smoke; while group I (n = 6) were pretreated with ibupro fen (12 mg/kg bolus followed by 3 mg/kg/h continuous infusion for 24 h ) and challenged with the same dose of smoke. All the animals were stu died for 24 h. Bronchial blood flow increased significantly in both gr oups throughout the experimental period; while stroke volume as well a s right and left ventricular stroke work indices of both groups were s ignificantly decreased (group I worse than group S) in the second half of the experimental period. These data suggest that vasodilatory pros taglandins do not play a major role in the bronchial vascular response to smoke inhalation injury and myocardial depression seen post injury is worse in animals treated with ibuprofen.