The Annals of thoracic surgery
-
Acute lung injury is associated with pulmonary hypertension, intrapulmonary shunting, and increased microvascular permeability, leading to altered oxygenation capacity. Thromboxane A2 has been found to be a central mediator in the development of septic and oleic acid (OA)-induced acute lung injury. Our previous study demonstrated a beneficial effect of preinjury thromboxane A2 receptor blockade. The current study examines the efficacy of postinjury receptor blockade on oxygenation capacity and pulmonary hemodynamics in an isolated lung model of OA-induced acute lung injury. ⋯ This study demonstrates that blockade of the thromboxane A2 receptor, even after the initiation of acute lung injury, eliminates pulmonary hypertension and improves oxygenation.