The described protocol is useful for producing an ex vivo porcine lung model under positive-pressure MV. It can be used for studying and teaching lung mechanics through visual feedback from the lungs during recruitment and analysis of the curves and values projected on the device screen. To achieve this result, pilot studies are needed to understand the behavior of the lungs outside the rib cage and to identify the need for adaptations.
We identified that the critical point was the formation of bubbles, fistulas, and lesions in the pleura that were visualized when connecting the mechanical ventilator, with a difference between inspired and expired TV and changes in the volume curve. Thus, one of the first protocol modifications was to use a wide surgical opening of the thorax, with diaphragm incision at the beginning of the procedure during the dissection of the cardiopulmonary organs, which can improve visualization of the structures and help the careful release of the inferior pulmonary ligament, maintaining lung integrity. Furthermore, manual inflation of the pilot lungs after the structures were dissected showed that this inflation exceeds the pressure limits and contributes to the formation of blisters and fistulas. Some studies using ex vivo lungs presented the possibility of using fibrin glue for leaks, with positive results; although we did not use this approach in the study, it could be an alternative to improve the model26,27. Another relevant point is that the lungs were removed and completely deflated in the pilot study, keeping them totally collapsed from organ preparation to MV initiation, which made it difficult to open the lungs to MV and increased the possibility of fistula formation. Hence, we started to clamp the OTC and keep the lungs inflated during the dissection until SS was administered. Afterward, the OTC was released, deflated, and connected the lungs to the mechanical ventilator to start the ARM, and an analysis of lung mechanics was performed to demonstrate the pulmonary hysteresis curve. This did not compromise lung recruitment or the analysis of lung mechanics because anesthetized patients have atelectasis and reduced lung compliance even during MV28,29,30,31.
In the pilot study, an initial PEEP of 5 cm H2O was used and increased in 5 cm H2O increments up to 25 cm H2O32,33. However, the peak and plateau pressures reached values greater than 40 and 30 cm H2O, respectively, with fistula formation. Thus, a gradual increase in 2 cm H2O increments was performed to better analyze the behavior of pressures over time and to understand PEEP limits in our ex vivo lung model. There was no difference in mortality between sustained and incremental inflation, but incremental inflation is the most used and can facilitate the stepwise analysis of lung mechanics34. As for the use of negative pressure20,21, the model was tested only under positive pressure because patients on MV are subjected to positive pressure. We do not rule out the use of negative pressure in the future, but it would require acrylic case changes.
The literature presents some models produced with a test lung, pistons, and an ex vivo model13,14 that were placed in hermetically sealed boxes that simulated the ribcage. Our model was placed in a conventional acrylic box, which, despite reducing the possibility of applying negative pressure, can facilitate the production of the model. Another model produced for preclinical studies18 is similar to ours, but the lungs were positioned horizontally while ours were maintained vertically, receiving the action of gravity without the support of the organs and ribcage. These lungs were used during experiments within 48 hours after euthanasia18,19,20,21,35. Our model was used for a total of 120 h, being kept at a temperature of 2-8 °C during the 24 h of the experiment, showing the positive results described in the representative results section.
The gap in teaching and training was not addressed at this first moment, but the model is effective for analyzing lung mechanics and can be used as a tool for research and teaching. In addition, we did not aim to study perfusion solutions, but in the same way that we infused SS in step 6.1, perfusion and preservation solutions can be used, opening new possibilities for studies with the same model presented.
This technique has some limitations: 1) knowledge of animal anatomy to ensure that the lungs are removed properly; 2) the model was not evaluated beyond five days; 3) the model appears to be appropriate for teaching ventilation but has not been tested in a teaching context; 4) it is an animal model, so it is important to consider its applicability limitations in humans.