Isoflurane administration before ischemia and during reperfusion attenuates ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury of isolated rabbit lungs

To investigate the effects of isoflurane on ischemia/ reperfusion (IR)-indu ced lung injury, we administered isoflurane before ischemia or during reper fusion. Isolated rabbit lungs were divided into the following groups: contr ol (n = 6), perfused and ventilated for 120 min without ischemia; ISO-contr ol (n = 6), 1 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration (MAC) isoflurane wa s administered for 30 min before 120 min continuous perfusion; IR (n = 6), ischemia for 60 min, followed by 60 min reperfusion; IR-ISO1 and IR-ISO2, i schemia followed by reperfusion and 1 MAC (n = 6) or 2 MAC (n = 6) isoflura ne for 60 min; ISO-IR (n = 6), 1 MAC isoflurane was administered for 30 min before ischemia, followed by IR. During these maneuvers, we measured total pulmonary vascular resistance (Rt), coefficient of filtration (Kfc), and l ung wet to dry ratio (W/D). The results indicated that administration of is oflurane during reperfusion inhibited an IR-induced increase in Kfc and W/D ratio. Furthermore, isoflurane at 2 MAC, but not 1 MAC, significantly inhi bited an IR-induced increase in Rt. The administration of isoflurane before ischemia significantly attenuated the increase in IR-induced Kfc, W/D, and Rt. Implications: Our results suggest that the administration of isofluran e before ischemia and during reperfusion protects against ischemia-reperfus ion-induced injury in isolated rabbit lungs.