Effects of postmortem heparinization in canine lung transplantation with non–heart-beating donors

Macroscopic findings of donor lung after pulmonary flushing with low-potassium dextran-glucose solution in each group. A, Donor left lung in group 1. Lung surface looked patchy, indicating inhomogeneous perfusion. Poorly perfused area was seen on dorsal side. B, Donor left lung in group 2. Lung surface looked uniformly perfused. C, Donor left lung in group 3. Patchy area was less observed in group 3 than in group 1.

Histologic studies of samples of donor right lung after pulmonary flushing in each group. A, Group 1. B, Group 2. C, Group 3. Many residual blood cells or clots were observed in capillary, as indicated by arrows in group 1. Blood cells or blood clots were less observed in groups 2 and 3.

Changes in TAT complex concentration in each group. TAT complex concentration in group 1 significantly increased after death and was significantly higher than in groups 2 and 3 after 60 minutes of warm ischemic time. Concentrations were stable in both groups 2 and 3 after death, and there was no significant difference between these groups. Triple asterisks indicate P < .001 versus group 1.