Pulmonary Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury

Pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is recognized as a key factor in the development of primary graft dysfunction and remains a major cause of perioperative morbidity and mortality in both lung transplantation and thoracic surgical procedures. This type of injury encompasses several pathological mechanisms, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Literature indicates that I/R injury begins with tissue hypoxia, reperfusion-induced oxidative stress is closely linked to disruption of the endothelial barrier, contributing to early edema formation and impaired pulmonary compliance. Followed by the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, and further progresses through an amplified inflammatory response. These observations highlight the essential role of antioxidants in both preventing and managing I/R injury across various tissues and organs.