Abstract
The healing of the bronchial anastomosis after lung transplantation has been problematic
due to the impaired bronchial circulation. The viability of the bronchial anastomosis
depends on collateral blood flow from the pulmonary circulation to the bronchial circulation,
during the first days after operation. In the present study, we evaluated bronchial
mucosal blood flow with a laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) in pigs (n=20). Left standard
thoracotomy was made and bronchial mucosal blood flow was measured, when pulmonary
artery, bronchial artery, or both were clamped. We found that the blood flow in the
bronchial mucosa diminished by one-third when the pulmonary artery was clamped and
by two-thirds when the bronchial artery was clamped. A minimal amount of perfusion
was noticed when both the pulmonary artery and the bronchial artery were clamped.
