PULMONARY REPERFUSION SYNDROME

“Reperfusion syndrome” of the lung may play a role in the pulmonary edema and hemorrhage that occur following pulmonary embolectomy, cardiopulmonary bypass, and shock. Bioenergetic, metabolic, and ultrastructural studies of canine lungs indicate that ventilated lung tissue could tolerate 5 hours of pulmonary arterial occlusion with minimal damage. However, a 24-hour interruption of pulmonary arterial blood flow produced a significant decrease in the ratio of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine diphosphate, and glycogen, and an increase in tissue lactate. Reperfusion of these lungs resulted in even more pronounced biochemical and ultrastructural deterioration, as well as gross pulmonary edema and hemorrhage. The lesion appears to be similar to the reperfusion damage that occurs in other organs, such as the kidney, and the skeletal and cardiac muscles. © 1979, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. All rights reserved.