Abstract

Ozlem Boybeyi, Ferda Yaman, Mahi Balci, Mustafa Unlu, Ucler Kisa, Mustafa Kemal Aslan

Objective: An experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on lung injury secondary to experimental intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). Methods: Eighteen Wistar-albino rats were included and allocated into 3 groups - the control group (CG, n=6), the sham group (SG, n=6) and the dexmedetomidine group (DG, n=6). No intervention was made in CG. IAH was achieved by insufflating atmospheric air with a percutaneous intraperitoneal needle up to 15 mmHg pressures in SG and DG. At the 60th min of IAH, physiological serum (1.5 ml/100 grams/hr) in SG and dexmedetomidine (1 mcg/kg/hr) in DG were infused for 30 min through the tail vein. At the 90th min, the left inferior lobes of the lung were harvested for biochemical (nitric oxide-NO, malondialdehyde-MDA) and histopathological (alveolar hemorrhage, edema, congestion, leukocyte infiltration) examination. Results: There was no significant difference between any of the groups with regards to NO and MDA levels (p>0.05). Histopathologically, although alveolar hemorrhage, edema, congestion, leukocyte infiltration were increased in SG compared to CG and DG, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between CG and DG with respect to histopathological grading (p>0.05). Conclusion: IAP of 15 mmHg in rats causes mild injury in lung parenchyma. The administration of DEX in clinical doses does not seem to significantly affect the lungs of rats.