Protective effects of ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone in rabbits with ventilator induced lung injury

Objective To explore the protective effects of ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone in rabbits with ventilator induced lung injury.Methods Thirty healthy male rabbits were randomly divided into three groups(10 rabbits in each group).The control group(groupⅠ) received no mechanical ventilation after intubation,and were intravenously 5 mL physiological saline.High tidal volume mechanical ventilation group(groupⅡ) and ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone group(groupⅢ) were administered mechanical ventilation(tidal volume,25 mL/kg;frequency,30 times/min;respiratory absorption ratio,1:3;PEEP,0 kPa,FiO2,21%;ventilation time,24 h) Group Ⅱ was intravenously injected with 5 mL physiological saline once mechanical ventilation started.Group Ⅲ was intravenously injected with 100 000 U ulinastatin and 5 mg/kg dexamethasone.The wet and dry weight(W/D) ratio of lung tissue was calculated.Lung tissue sections were prepared for biopsies.The lung tissue specimens were collected for detecting the levels of TNF-α,CC16 and TGF-β1.Results Lung tissue W/D,TNF-α,CC16,and TGF-β1 in group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ were significantly higher compared with group I(P0.001).Lung tissue W/D and TNF-α,CC16 and TGF-β1 in group Ⅲwere significantly reduced compared with group Ⅱ(P0.01).Lung tissue biopsy: lung tissue visible pulmonary interstitial and alveolar spaceedema,pulmonary inflammatory cell infiltration could be found in group Ⅱ.Pulmonary edema was weaker in Group Ⅲ compared with group Ⅱ.Conclusion Ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone has a protective effect on VLIL.