An experimantal model of pulmonary contusion from blunt thorcic trauma

Abstract

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to present our own experimental model of pulmonary contusion from blunt thoracic trauma in small laboratory animals, accomplished by originally design platform. METHODS. Fifteen Wistar albino rats (body weight 290, 0 -320, 0) were used as the experimental object. Originally designed platform was used to cause blunt thoracic trauma in rats. Gross examination and histological evaluation of the contused lung were performed. RESULTS. With the dosage of energy of the mechanical impact, achieved by our platform, pulmonary contusion was successfully provoked. Two of the most common mechanisms by which blunt thoracic trauma causes pulmonary contusion -compression of the chest wall against the lung parenchyma and "counter -coup" were reproduced. The experimental model that we accomplished managed to achieve bilateral pulmonary contusion by left -sided thoracic blow. Bilateral hemorrhages on the lateral surfaces of the lungs proven by gross and histological evaluation are evidence of pulmonary contusion. Histological analysis of the achieved samples demonstrates the considerable inflammatory cell-reaction in the contused lung areas by massive accumulation of neutrophil leucocites and macrophages 24 th hour after blunt thoracic trauma. CONCLUSIONS. Our results demonstrated that with the originally designed platform we successfully created a reproducible experimental model of pulmonary contusion from blunt thoracic trauma in small laboratory animals. On the base of such studies some intimate mechanism of human pulmonary contusion can be explored.