Surgery
-
Lung contusion (LC) is a unique direct and focal insult that is considered a major risk factor for the initiation of acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. We have shown recently that consumption of nitric oxide (due to excess superoxide) resulting in peroxynitrite formation leads to decreased vascular reactivity after LC. In this study, we set out to determine whether the superoxide scavenger Mn (III) tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin chloride (MnTBAP) plays a protective role in alleviating acute inflammatory response and injury in LC. ⋯ Superoxide dismutase mimetic-MnTBAP reduced permeability and oxidative injury in LC and may have a therapeutic role in diminishing inflammation in LC.