Expert Recommendations for Tracheal Intubation in Critically ill Patients with Noval Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is a highly contagious disease. It firstly appeared in Wuhan, Hubei province of China in December 2019. During the next two months, it moved rapidly throughout China and spread to multiple countries through infected persons travelling by air. Most of the infected patients have mild symptoms including fever, fatigue and cough. But in severe cases, patients can progress rapidly and develop to the acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis and coagulopathy. The new coronavirus was reported to spread via droplets, contact and natural aerosols from human-to-human. Therefore, high-risk aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation may put the anesthesiologists at high risk of nosocomial infections. In fact, SARS-CoV-2 infection of anesthesiologists after endotracheal intubation for confirmed COVID-19 patients have been reported in hospitals in Wuhan. The expert panel of airway management in Chinese Society of Anaesthesiology has deliberated and drafted this recommendation, by which we hope to guide the performance of endotracheal intubation by frontline anesthesiologists and critical care physicians. During the airway management, enhanced droplet/airborne PPE should be applied to the health care providers. A good airway assessment before airway intervention is of vital importance. For patients with normal airway, awake intubation should be avoided and modified rapid sequence induction is strongly recommended. Sufficient muscle relaxant should be assured before intubation. For patients with difficult airway, good preparation of airway devices and detailed intubation plans should be made.

Minocycline attenuates post-operative cognitive impairment in aged mice by inhibiting microglia activation.

Although it is known that isoflurane exposure or surgery leads to post-operative cognitive dysfunction in aged rodents, there are few clinical interventions and treatments available to prevent this disorder. Minocycline (MINO) produces neuroprotection from several neurodegenerative diseases and various experimental animal models. Therefore, we set out to investigate the effects of MINO pre-treatment on isoflurane or surgery induced cognitive impairment in aged mice by assessing the hippocampal-dependent spatial memory performance using the Morris water maze task. Hippocampal tissues were isolated from mice and evaluated by Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence procedures and protein array system. Our results elucidate that MINO down-regulated the isoflurane-induced and surgery-induced enhancement in the protein levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1ß, interferon-γ and microglia marker Iba-1, and up-regulated protein levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 and IL-10. These findings suggest that pre-treatment with MINO attenuated isoflurane or surgery induced cognitive impairment by inhibiting the overactivation of microglia in aged mice.

Impaired Spatial Learning Memory after Isoflurane Anesthesia or Appendectomy in Aged Mice is Associated with Microglia Activation.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has been one of the most common problems in elderly patients following surgery. But the specific mechanism of POCD is still not clear. To further understand the reason of these postoperative behavioral deficits, we evaluated the spatial learning memory of both adult (3 months) and aged (18 months) male mice, 3 or 28 days after isoflurane (Iso) exposure for two hours or appendectomy (App). Hippocampal microglia activation and IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression were also evaluated at day 3, day 14 and day 28 after Iso exposure or appendectomy. Results showed that spatial learning memory of aged, but not adult, mice was impaired after Iso exposure or appendectomy, accompanied with more hippocampal microglia activation and IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-γ overexpression. These findings suggest that the cognitive deficits of elderly patients who have undergone surgeries are quite possibly caused by hippocampal microglia overactivation and the subsequent inflammation.

Single sevoflurane exposure increases methyl-CpG island binding protein 2 phosphorylation in the hippocampus of developing mice.

Sevoflurane is an inhaled anesthetic that is widely used in clinical practice, particularly for pediatric anesthesia. Previous studies have suggested that sevoflurane may induce neurotoxicity in the brains of neonatal mice. In the present study, the possible mechanism of neurodegeneration induced by sevoflurane in the developing brain, and the possibility that memantine treatment is able to reverse this phenomenon, were investigated. On postnatal day 7 (P7) C57BL/6 mice were continuously exposed to 1.5% sevoflurane for 2 h following pre-injection of saline or memantine. Methyl-CpG island binding protein 2 (MeCP2), cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus was measured by western blotting. Exposure to 1.5% sevoflurane resulted in increased MeCP2 phosphorylation in the hippocampus, which was reversed by memantine injection. However, neither CREB phosphorylation nor BDNF expression were significantly altered by sevoflurane treatment. The current study indicated that sevoflurane causes neurotoxicity in the developing brain, and that this may be attributed to increased MeCP2 phosphorylation in the hippocampus. It was also demonstrated that this neurotoxicity can be prevented by the N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor inhibitor memantine.

Optimal single-dose epidural neostigmine for postoperative analgesia after partial hepatectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Neostigmine can produce analgesia by acting on the spinal cord. This study was to determine the optimal single-dose of epidural neostigmine for postoperative analgesia after partial hepatectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients undergoing elective partial hepatectomy under general anesthesia combined with epidural block were studied. The dose of epidural neostigmine was determined using Dixon's up-and-down method, starting from neostigmine 100 µg with an interval of 25 µg. Thirty minutes after skin incision, a predetermined dose of neostigmine was injected via the epidural catheter. Each patient received 0.125% bupivacaine and fentanyl 2 µg/ml for patient controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) after the operation. Assessment of analgesia quality was performed at 8 h and 24 h after the operation. RESULTS: The ED50 of epidural neostigmine in combination with PCEA for satisfactory analgesia was 226.78 ± 33.20 µg. Probit analysis showed that the ED50 and ED95 of epidural neostigmine were 228.63 µg (95% CI = 197.95-299.77 µg) and 300.12 µg (95% CI = 259.44-741.65 µg), respectively. CONCLUSION: The ED50 and ED95 of epidural neostigmine in combination with PCEA for satisfactory analgesia after partial hepatectomy were 228.63 µg (95% CI = 197.95-299.77 µg) and 300.12 µg (95% CI = 259.44-741.65 µg).

Moderate-dose glucocorticoids as salvage therapy for severe pneumonia in renal transplant recipients: a single-center feasibility study.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of moderate-dose glucocorticoids (GCs) with mechanical ventilation as salvage therapy for renal transplant recipients with severe pneumonia, which was non-responsive to conventional treatment. A retrospective study was conducted involving renal transplant recipients diagnosed with severe pneumonia and did not respond to conventional treatment. All immunosuppressants were then completely withdrawn, and the patients were initially administered with methylprednisolone at doses of 2.0-2.5 mg/kg/day once every 12 h. This dosage was continued until oxygenation improved, and the treatment was gradually tapered (by 20 mg every 2-3 days) to the previous maintenance dosage. Ten patients were recruited from year 2008 to 2012. Two patients who underwent emergency endotracheal intubation were intubated on days 3 and 8, respectively, another one died from recurrent pneumothorax. The mean PaO2/FiO2 of the nine survivors was significantly increased by the increasing treatment duration; whereas the lung injury scores (LIS) and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were both significantly decreased. The use of moderate-dose GCs may play a role as salvage therapy for renal transplant recipients with severe pneumonia. However, further study with larger trials to is needed.

[Anesthesia allows a step forward in endoscopic treatment for gastrointestinal diseases].

Over the past 10 years, endoscopic diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal disesses has become one of the most commonly performed invasive procedures in China. Recently, China is considered the international leader in some new endoscopic technologies. In this paper, we discuss anesthesia support for new endoscopic technologies, including endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), in terms of selection such as operative procedure, complications, preoperative evaluation, anesthesia management, and intraoperative monitoring.

Impaired spatial learning and memory after sevoflurane-nitrous oxide anesthesia in aged rats is associated with down-regulated cAMP/CREB signaling.

Neurocognitive deficits arising from anesthetic exposure have recently been debated, while studies have shown that the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus is critical for long-term memory. To better understand the neural effects of inhalational anesthetics, we studied the behavioral and biochemical changes in aged rats that were exposed to sevoflurane (Sev) and nitrous oxide (N2O) for 4 h. Eighteen-month-old rats were randomly assigned to receive 1.3% sevoflurane and 50% nitrous oxide/50% oxygen or 50% oxygen for 4 h. Spatial learning and memory were tested with the Morris water maze 48 h after exposure, and the results showed that sevoflurane-nitrous oxide exposure induced a significant deficit in spatial learning acquisition and memory retention. Experiments revealed that the cAMP and pCREB levels in the dorsal hippocampus were decreased in rats with anesthetic exposure in comparison with control rats 48 h after anesthesia as well as 15 min after the probe trial, but there were no significant differences in CREB expression. Besides these, the current study also found the DG neurogenesis significantly decreased as well as neuronal loss and neuronal apoptosis increased in the hippocampus of rats exposed to Sev+N2O. The current study demonstrated that down-regulation of cAMP/CREB signaling, decrease of CREB-dependent neurogenesis and neuronal survival in the hippocampus contributed to the neurotoxicity and cognitive dysfunction induced by general anesthesia with sevoflurane-nitrous oxide.

Effect of admission time on mortality in an intensive care unit in Mainland China: a propensity score matching analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship between admission time and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality is inconclusive and influenced by various factors. This study aims to estimate the effect of admission time on ICU outcomes in a tertiary teaching hospital in China by propensity score matching (PSM) and stratified analysis. METHODS: A total of 2,891 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study from 1 January 2009 to 29 December 2011. Multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis were performed in this retrospective study. PSM and stratified analysis were applied for confounding factors, such as Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score and admission types. RESULTS: Compared with office hour subgroup (n = 2,716), nighttime (NT, n = 175) subgroup had higher APACHE II scores (14 vs. 8, P < 0.001), prolonged length of stay in the ICU (42 vs. 24 h, P = 0.011), and higher percentages of medical (8.6% vs. 3.3%, P < 0.001) and emergency (59.4% vs. 12.2%, P < 0.001) patients. Moreover, NT admissions were related to higher ICU mortality [odds ratio (OR), 1.725 (95% CI 1.118-2.744), P = 0.01] and elevated mortality risk at 28 days [14.3% vs. 3.2%; OR, 1.920 (95% CI 1.171-3.150), P = 0.01]. PSM showed that admission time remained related to ICU outcome (P = 0.045) and mortality risk at 28 days [OR, 2.187 (95% CI 1.119-4.271), P = 0.022]. However, no mortality difference was found between weekend and workday admissions (P = 0.849), even if weekend admissions were more related to higher APACHE II scores compared with workday admissions. CONCLUSIONS: NT admission was associated with poor ICU outcomes. This finding may be related to shortage of onsite intensivists and qualified residents during NT. The current staffing model and training system should be improved in the future.

Protective effect of melatonin on reexpansion pulmonary edema in rats model.

BACKGROUND: Rapid reexpansion of collapsed lungs leads to reexpansion pulmonary edema (RPE). We aimed to investigate the effect of melatonin in the prevention of RPE formation. METHODS: We used a Wistar rat model in which the left lung was collapsed by ligating the left bronchus for 48 hours and then reexpanded and ventilated for an additional 2 hours. Thirty minutes before reexpansion, we injected melatonin (10 mg/kg) or vehicle intraperitoneally. We compared the wet/dry ratio, oxygenation index, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels in the reexpanded lungs between untreated and treated animals. RESULTS: We found that the wet/dry ratio of the melatonin group was significantly lower than that of the vehicle group, and the oxygenation index was higher in the melatonin group. Compared with the control, melatonin pretreatment significantly decreased the activities of IL-8, NO, MDA levels and MPO in lung tissues. Histopathology of reexpanded lungs showed that the melatonin pretreatment group had less pulmonary edema and less inflammatory cell infiltration. CONCLUSION: Melatonin decreases pulmonary edema and improves oxygenation after reexpansion by attenuating oxidative stress and inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Multidisciplinary intensive care in extensive necrotizing fasciitis.

This is a case report of extensive necrotizing fasciitis (NF). A 65-year-old man presented with high fever, pain, swelling, and redness of the perineum, scrotum, and right lower limb. Based on the clinical symptoms and an imaging examination, a diagnosis of NF was made. The patient underwent an extensive exploration followed by daily bedside debridement. A diversion colostomy and six additional debridement procedures on the right thigh and perineum were subsequently performed. Although the patient had an eventful course, he recovered well under a multidisciplinary treatment regimen. The treatment and hospital course of the patient are described.

Combination of caspofungin and low-dose trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for the treatment of severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in renal transplant recipients.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) is a severe and life-threatening complication in immunocompromised patients. Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) is well known for its effectiveness as prophylaxis of PJP. However, the use of TMP-SMZ is associated with various adverse effects that may not be tolerated by critically ill patients. Caspofungin is recommended for invasive fungal infections, but the treatment of PJP after solid organ transplantation (SOT) is an off-label use of this drug. In this study, three cases of severe PJP in renal transplant recipients treated with a combination of caspofungin and low-dose TMP-SMZ were presented. Initial findings indicated that the combined treatment may be beneficial for the treatment of PJP and decrease the incidence of TMP-SMZ-related adverse effects.

Predictive value of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in combination with the sequential organ failure assessment score in sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic power of n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in sepsis is disputable and unstable among different models. We attempt to evaluate the prognostic potential of NT-proBNP in combination with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score in sepsis. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 100 consecutive sepsis patients were enrolled. Clinical data such as admission SOFA, the Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation score, shock prevalence, use of lung protective ventilation, vasopressors, and glucocorticoids were recorded. Additionally, serum creatinine (Scr1 and Scr3) and NT-proBNP (NT-proBNP1 and NT-proBNP3) were assayed and evaluated at admission and on day 3 respectively. RESULTS: DNT-proBNP (NT-proBNP3 minus NT-proBNP1) (P < 0.001, Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.245, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.137 - 1.362) and admission SOFA (P < 0.001, HR = 1.197, 95%CI, 1.106 - 1.295) were independently related to in-hospital mortality. Their combination was a more robust predictor for in-hospital mortality than either of them individually. Patients with high DNT-proBNP and SOFA had the poorest prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, both DNT-proBNP and SOFA were independent predictors of septic patients' prognosis. Moreover, the combination of DNT-proBNP and admission SOFA provided a novel strategy that contained information regarding both the response to treatment and sepsis severity.

Effect of intraoperative amino acid infusion on blood glucose under general anesthesia combined with epidural block.

AIM: To investigate the effect of intraoperative amino acid infusion on blood glucose in patients under general anesthesia combined with epidural block. METHODS: 36 patients were randomly assigned to receive an intraoperative infusion of 18 compound amino acids (group AA) or lactated Ringer solution (group LR) at 2 ml·kg(-1)·h(-1). Nasopharyngeal temperature, and blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide and glucagon concentrations were measured 30 min before induction (T0), 10 min after induction (T1), 30 min and 2 h after skin incision (T2, T3), and 30 min and 2 h postoperatively (T4, T5). RESULTS: Nasopharyngeal temperature values, which decreased during surgery in both groups, were significantly higher in group AA than in group LR from T3 to T5. Compared with T0, the blood glucose concentration increased significantly from T2 in group AA and T3 in group LR to T5. Plasma insulin and C-peptide concentrations did not change significantly in group LR, while both increased significantly in group AA from T1 to T4. The plasma glucagon concentration did not change significantly in either group. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative amino acid infusion in patients under general anesthesia combined with epidural block may accelerate the increase of blood glucose concentration and stimulate insulin secretion, and can alleviate hypothermia during the later period of surgery and postoperatively.

[Application of enhanced recovery program after surgery(ERAS) in patients undergoing radical resection for colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the enhanced recovery program after surgery (ERAS) with conventional perioperative management in patients undergoing radical resection for colorectal cancer. METHODS: The ERAS protocol included a combination of evidence-based and consensus methodology. A total of 597 consecutive patients undergoing elective colorectal resection were randomized to either the ERAS(n=299) or the control group(n=298). Outcomes related to nutrition and metabolism index, stress index, and recovery index were measured and recorded. RESULTS: Demographics and operative parameters were similar between the two groups(P>0.05). The nutritional status of patients in the ERAS group was improved after surgery compared with that of the control group. On postoperative day (POD) 1, the HOMA-IR in the ERAS group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.01). The cortisol level in the control group was elevated on both POD 1(P<0.01) and POD 5(P<0.01) compared to the preoperative level. However, the cortisol level was not increased until POD 5(P<0.01) in the ERAS group. The levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IFN-γ were reduced in the ERAS group, indicating less postoperative stress responses compared with the control group. In addition, ERAS group was associated with accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal function. The postoperative length of stay [(5.7±1.6) d vs. (6.6±2.4) d, P<0.01] and expense[(15 998±2655) RMB vs. (17 763±3059) RMB, P<0.01] were reduced in the ERAS group. Twenty-eight patients(9.4%) in the control group and 29(9.7%) in the ERAS group developed complications, while the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: ERAS protocol alleviates surgical stress response and accelerates postoperative recovery without compromising patient safety.

[Safety and effectiveness of central vein catheters indwelling with subcutaneous port in patients undergoing chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of 3 methods of central vein catheters indwelling in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. METHODS: 120 cancer patients undergoing long-term chemotherapy (9 months-2 years)were divided into 3 equal groups to be treated via peripherally inserted central catheter(PICC), untunneled central venous catheter (CVC) by repeat venipuncture (20 through jugular vein and 20 through subclavian vein), and implanted subinfuse-port (PORT, 20 through jugular vein and 20 through subclavian vein). The complications of implantation and quality of life were compared. RESULTS: The early complication of the PICC group was malposition of the tip of catheters; and the early complications of the CVC group included hematoma in the jugular vein subgroup and pneumothorax in the subclavian vein subgroup. The incidence rates of catheter obstruction and thrombosis of the PORT group were significantly higher than those of the other two groups (all P < 0.05). The incidence rate of infection (regional and systemic) of the PORT group was significantly lower than those of the other two groups (both P < 0.05). The satisfaction score during chemotherapy of the PORT group was (5.6 +/- 1.6), significantly higher than those of the PICC and CVC groups [(3.3 +/- 0.8) and (3.9 +/- 0.6) respectively, both P < 0.05], and the satisfaction score between chemotherapy courses of the PORT group was (5.7 +/- 0.7), significantly higher than those of the PICC and CVC groups [(4.5 +/- 0.8) and (4.8 +/- 1.2) respectively, both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: The technology of central vein catheter indwelling with subcutaneous port in patients undergoing chemotherapy is effective and safe.

[Application of the protocol of enhanced recovery after surgery in colorectal surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) protocol in colorectal surgery. METHODS: From september 2006 to February 2007, 74 patients with colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to ERAS group and control group. The stress index, nutrition and metabolism index, intraoperative index and postoperative index were evaluated. RESULTS: Six patients were excluded, 3 in ERAS group (2 cases received hepatectomy concomitantly and 1 case received partial ileum resection), and 3 in control group (1 case received hepatectomy and 1 case received colorectomy concomitantly, another presented asthma paroxysm). So there were 34 cases in ERAS group and 34 cases in control, with no statistical differences in sex, age, BMI index and operation types. Deviation of HOMA-IR index of ERAS was lower than the control (P>0.05), the same as plasma cortisol at the 1st day after operation (P<0.05), but plasma glucagons in the operation of ERAS group was higher than that of control (P<0.05). Plasma glucose 1st day after operation of ERAS group was lower than control (P<0.05), while plasma triglyceride intraoperation, at 1st day, 2nd day after operation of ERAS was higher than control (P<0.05). Nitrogen negative balance of ERAS group was higher than control at 2nd day after surgery, but is lower intraoperation and at 6th day after operation (P<0.05). The time of exhaust gas and stool, time to eat fluidity and semi-fluidity, out-of-bed time and exercise time per-day, residual time and complication rate in ERAS group were better than those of control (P<0.05). Post-operative expenses of ERAS was lower than that of control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ERAS can decrease surgical stress, increase functional recovery and reduce complication rate.

Clinical study on effect of electro-acupuncture combined with different anesthetics on auditory-evoked potential index.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on auto regressive with exogenous input model (ARX-model) auditory evoked index (AAI) in patients anesthetized with different anesthetics. METHODS: Forty-eight adult patients undergoing scheduled surgical operation were enrolled and divided into two groups (24 in each group) according to the anesthetics applied, Group A was anesthetized with propofol sedation and Group B with Isoflurane-epidural anesthesia. Group A was subdivided into three groups of low, middle and high concentration of target effect-site of 1.0 microg/ml, 1.5 microg/ml and 2.0 microg/ml through target controlled infusion (TCI) and Group B into 3 subgroups of minimum alveolar effective concentration of isoflurane (0.4 MAC, 0.6 MAC and 0.8 MAC for B1, B2 and B3 subgroups) respectively, with 8 patients in every subgroup. EA on acupoints of Hegu (LI4) and Neiguan (P6) was applied on all the patients during anesthesia, and the change of AAI at various time points was recorded. RESULTS: In the three subgroups of Group A, levels of AAI were significantly elevated in the first few minutes after EA, and significantly lowered 20 min after EA in subgroup A2. While in the subgroups of Group B, except the elevating in Group B1 1-2 min after EA, levels of AAI remained unchanged at other time points. CONCLUSION: Pain response could be reflected by AAI during EA. EA could enhance the sedative effect of propofol in middle concentration, but its effect on isoflurane epidural anesthesia is insignificant.

[The effect of posttreatment with isoflurane versus propofol on pulmonary alveolar capillary barrier in endotoxemic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of posttreatment with isoflurane versus propofol on pulmonary alveolar capillary barrier (PACB) in endotoxemic rats. METHODS: Ninety-six male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 350 g were randomly divided into 6 equal groups to be administered with intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 4 mg/kg) or equivalent volume of normal saline (NS) and treated with intravenous pentobarbital (C, 20 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1)), inhaled isoflurane (I, 0.55%) or intravenous propofol (P, 10 mg/kg bolus, 40 mg x kg(-1) x h(-1)) 2 hours after the establishment of endotoxemic model: NS-C, NS-I, NS-P, LPS-C, LPS-I, and LPS-P groups. The rats were ventilated for 2 h. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and arterial blood gas were assessed hourly for 4 h. One cohort (n = 8 per group) was subjected to bronchial alveolar lavage in the left lungs for determination of protein concentration in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the lung permeability index (LPI, BALF protein concentration/serum protein concentration). Then the right lungs were removed to undergo light and electron microscopy and measurement of the wet wet-to-dry weight ratio (WW/WD). In a second cohort (n = 8 per group), Evans blue dye (EBD, 30 mg/kg) was injected 30 min before the end of the experiment to determine the EBD content in the lung. RESULTS: The MAP, pH, PaCO(2), and PaO(2) were not different significantly within the three NS groups and the three LPS groups and WW/WD did not show any difference among all six groups. The LPI and EBD content in lung were significantly higher in the LPS-C group [8.1 x 10(-3) +/- 2.4 x 10(-3) and 0.628 +/- 0.082 absorption unit (AU) respectively] than in NS-C group (3.3 x 10(-3) +/- 2.2 x 10(-3) and 0.479 +/- 0.154 AU respectively, both P < 0.05), and were higher in the LPS-P group (9.1 x 10(-3) +/- 2.2 x 10(-3) and 0.664 +/- 0.028 AU respectively) than in the LPS-I group (5.5 x 10(-3) +/- 2.0 x 10(-3) and 0.517 +/- 0.048 AU respectively, both P < 0.05). Light microscopy showed more severe lung injury changes in the LPS groups than in the NS groups, especially in the LPS-P group. Electron microscopy found that the tight junctions between the adjacent pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in the LPS-P groups were disrupted. CONCLUSION: Compared with posttreatment with propofol, posttreatment with isoflurane protects the PACB function and decreases the pulmonary permeability in endotoxemic rats.