Donor Lung Pretreatment with Prostaglandin E1 Does Not Improve Lung Graft Preservation

Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is widely used to improve early graft function after lung transplantation, but some studies have questioned its benefits. Therefore we evaluated the effect of donor pretreatment with PGE1 in our porcine model of single lung transplantation. Donors received PGE1 or placebo intravenously before flushing the pulmonary artery with modified Euro-Collins solution. After cold storage, the excised left lung was transplanted. Ischemic time was 4 h. We used our right side heart bypass model to measure standardized pulmonary vascular resistance and to study blood flow distribution between recipient’s native and transplanted lung. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and gas exchange were also measured. After transplantation, pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly higher in the transplanted lung, which received only one fourth of the total pulmonary blood flow. PGE1 pretreatment did not improve pulmonary hemodynamic parameters, or gas exchange.