The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. · Mar 2022
Safety of continuous 12-hour delivery of antimicrobial doses of inhaled nitric oxide during ex vivo lung perfusion.
High-dose nitric oxide (NO) has been shown effective against a variety of micro-organisms in vitro, including common bacteria found in donor organs. However, clinical obstacles related to its implementation in vivo are the formation of methemoglobin and the accumulation of toxic nitrogen compounds. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) is a platform that allows for organ maintenance with an acellular perfusion solution, thus overcoming these limitations. The present study explores the safety of continuous high-dose inhaled (iNO) during EVLP for an extended period of 12 hours. ⋯ High-dose inhaled NO delivered continuously over 12 hours appears to be safe without inducing any significant pulmonary inflammation or deterioration in lung function. These findings support further efficacy studies to explore the use of iNO for the treatment of infections in donor lungs during EVLP.