Deterioration of lung function in a Pig Model of uncontrolled cardiac death

Introduction. Uncontrolled donors after circulatory determination of death (uDCDD) represent a yet unexplored pool of organs potentially available for transplantation. The aims of this study were to validate a protocol of cardiac death in the pig and to investigate lung function during the process. Materials and Methods. Cardiac death was induced in preanesthetized animals with an injection of 600 mg propofol; once systolic blood pressure was <50 mm Hg (Agonal Phase), a 20 mEq bolus of KCI was given and, after asystolia was documented, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) started, followed by 5 minutes no touch (end-CPR). Invasive blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded; blood samples taken at baseline, 15 minutes after CPR, and after the no touch period (end-CPR). Computed tomography (CT) scans were taken at baseline and at end-CPR. Results. Agonal phase was reached in 6 +/- 1 minutes and lasted 3 +/- 1 minutes; average HR was 49 +/- 16 beats/min, and BP was 41 +/- 12 mm Hg. CPR lasted 35 +/- 3 minutes; average HR and BP were 113 +/- 32 beats/min and 86 +/- 63 mm Hg, respectively. PaO2/FiO(2) decreased from 442 +/- 31 mm Hg at baseline to 63 +/- 36 at end-CPR (P < .001). pH decreased from 7.378 +/- 0.045 to 6.931 +/- 0.042 (P < .001), with a corresponding increase of lactate from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to mmol/L to 12.8 +/- 2.1 (P < .001). As assessed using CT scan, total lung volume decreased (baseline vs end-CPR 1107 106 +/- mL vs 617 +/- 95; P < .001), whereas noninflated tissue (ie, atelectasis) significantly increased (46 +/- 10 g vs 131 +/- 89; P = .008). Conclusions. Lung function greatly deteriorated after cardiac death. The model we set may constitute a reproducible platform for future investigations on lung uDCDD.