Hospital Buyer

New research being published this month in Anesthesiology indicates that alternative approaches to ventilation protocols may soon become available.

Long term use of mechanical ventilation can become problematic because of potential harm to patients through inflammatory reactions. Evaluation completed by a team at the University of Toronto indicates that prolonged ventilation can alter both the chemistry and physiology of the lungs.

The team examined the lungs of rats who were treated with mechanical ventilation. Some of the rats also received PJ-34, a potent drug. The drug was expected to attenuate lung injury associated with ventilation. An increase in the enzyme PARP was noted. The change in the PARP enzyme is associated with DNA damage, repair to DNA when damage occurs, and maintain stable levels within body cells.

The oxidative stress that results from ongoing mechanical ventilation can cause severe DNA injury. This can also cause excessive PARP production, disrupting the stability of calls. This, in turn, causes both cell death and dysfunction. Importantly, the additional PARP presence can further cause damage to the lungs, in addition to diminishing lung function.

The team noted that the addition of PJ-34 may reduce the inflammatory response exhibited when patients require mechanical ventilation. Another benefit noted was the preservation of lung function. This animal study requires further validation with human studies. If findings hold, this may modify the treatment approach for ventilation.

February 5, 2008 Related topics: New Technology & Innovation, Quality, Safety, Errors, Anesthesiology