PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline against the lung injury observed after intestinal ischemia (I) followed by a period of reperfusion (R). METHODS: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were equally divided into 4 experimental groups and operated under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia. (1) Sham: falsely-operated animals; (2) SS+IR: intestinal ischemia was accomplished by clipping the superior mesenteric artery during 60 minutes, with an administration of a standard volume of saline solution (SS) 5 min before the end of the ischemia period; the clip was then releases or a 120-min period of reperfusion; (3) I+PTX+R: ischemia as above, PTX was administered (25 mg/kg) and the gut reperfused as above; (4) PTX+I+PTX+R: Five minutes before arterial occlusion PTX was administered; the superior mesenteric artery was then clipped for 60 minutes. After 55-min ischemia, an additional dosis of PTX was administered; the clip was removed for reperfusion as above. At the 60th min of reperfusion a third dosis of PTX was administered. RESULTS: PTX markedly attenuated lung injury as manifested by significant decreases (all P<0.001 as compared with the SS+IR group) of pulmonary wet/dry tissue weight ratio, total protein content, myeloperoxidase activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Moreover, it was apparent that in the group PTX+I+PTX+R the improvements have been even more significant. CONCLUSION: PTX exerted a protective effect on the lung from the injuries caused by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion.

Introdução: existem poucos relatos médicos em nosso meio sobre a organização de serviços hospitalares e sobre o tratamento dos feridos em conflitos bélicos, justificando a revisão histórica do atendimento realizado durante os combates ocorridos no estado de São Paulo, na Revolução Constitucionalista de 1932, avaliando conceitos que também são utilizados no século XXI. Objetivo: estudar os relatos do professor Alípio Corrêa Netto, de Eduardo Etzel e Francisco Cerruti sobre o atendimento dos feridos no conflito militar ocorrido no início do século XX, discutindo as condutas descritas e conceitos atuais. Métodos: análise de artigo publicado em 1934 nos Annaes da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, comentando com base na literatura do século XXI, praticamente 90 anos após a publicação inicial, conceitos que já eram empregados e permanecem atuais. Resultados: o planejamento prévio, o comprometimento dos profissionais, a sólida formação acadêmica e técnica dos envolvidos foram determinantes para resultados muito satisfatórios, em uma época ainda sem antibióticos, resultando em mortalidade relatada de 6,4% no hospital da cidade de Cruzeiro, mesmo em condições desfavoráveis como foi o atendimento de uma ampla frente de combate, no setor norte do conflito. Conclusão: muitos conceitos utilizados em cirurgia do trauma, atribuídos à experiência norte-americana após a Segunda Guerra Mundial (1939-1945), já eram empregados antes de 1932.Palavras chave: Conflitos armados/história, Ferido de guerra, Ferimentos e lesões/históriaABSTRACTBackground: there are few medical reports in our country about the organization of hospital services as well as the treatment of the wounded in war conflicts, what justifies the historical review of the care provided during the fighting in the state of São Paulo, in the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932, evaluating concepts which are still used in the 21st century. Aim: assess the reports by Professor Alípio Corrêa Netto, Eduardo Etzel and Francisco Cerruti on the care of the wounded in the military conflict that occurred in the beginning of the 20th century, discussing the medical conduct described and current concepts. Methods: analysis of an article published in 1934 in the Annaes da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, commenting on the literature of the 21st century, practically 90 years after the initial publication, concepts that were already used and remain current. Results: prior planning, the commitment of professionals, the solid academic and technical training of those involved were decisive for very satisfactory results, at a time still without antibiotics, resulting in a reported hospital mortality of 6.4% in the city of Cruzeiro, even under unfavorable conditions such as the care of a wide front of combat, in the northern sector of the conflict. Conclusion: several concepts used in trauma surgery, attributed to the American experience after the Second World War (1939-1945), had already been used before 1932.Keywords: Armed conflicts/history, War wounded, Wounds and injuries/history