Biomarkers of lung injury after one‐lung ventilation for lung resection

Background and objective:  Acute lung injury contributes to the mortality of patients after lung resection and one-lung ventilation (OLV). The objective of this study was to characterise the effect of lung resection and OLV on proposed biomarkers of lung injury in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and plasma. Methods:  In adults undergoing lung resection, EBC was collected before and at 30-min intervals during OLV. Inflammatory mediators were assayed in plasma samples taken preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and 24 h postoperatively. Results:  EBC pH decreased from 6.51 ± 0.43 preoperatively, to 6.17 ± 0.78 and 6.09 ± 0.83 at 30 and 60 min, respectively (mean ± SD, P = 0.034, n = 20). Plasma concentrations of the receptor for advanced glycation end-products, von Willebrand factor and interleukin-6 increased comparing preoperative and postoperative samples (all P < 0.001, n = 30). By contrast, levels of Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D decreased (P < 0.001, n = 30), and correlated inversely with the extent of lung resected. Conclusions:  Lung resection and OLV was associated with a rapid reduction in EBC pH and differential changes in plasma biomarkers of lung injury. Further investigation of EBC pH as a marker of ventilator-induced lung injury is warranted.