Use of dexmedetomidine to prevent pulmonary injury after pneumoperitoneum in ventilated rats.

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examined the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in preventing lung injury resulting from pneumoperitoneum in a ventilated rat model. METHODS: Animals (n=18) were allocated randomly into 3 groups: control group, no pneumoperitoneum; sham group, pneumoperitoneum with intra-abdominal pressure of 12 mm Hg for 60 minutes; and dexmedetomidine group, dexmedetomidine administration 30 minutes before pneumoperitoneum. The rats were rested for 30 minutes after abdominal deflation. Then, blood samples were obtained for plasma malondialdehyde and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) analyses. Tissue samples were taken for histopathologic examination and malondialdehyde analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the sham group had a significantly higher level of plasma IMA. Pretreatment with dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the IMA level. Histopathologically, tissues from sham rats exhibited moderate or severe tissue damage, compared with control tissues. Dexmedetomidine-treated rats showed significantly less tissue damage than sham rats. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine prophylaxis resulted in significantly less IMA production and significantly less neutrophil infiltration, thereby helping to protect the lungs from injury after pneumoperitoneum.