ABSTRACT
The adult respiratory distress syndrome is a clinical manifestation of diffuse lung injury that is associated with a high mortality rate. There are two major criticisms of the sheep lung lymph model of endotoxemia. The first is that some systemic lymph contamination of the collected lung lymph remains despite efforts to remove such contamination. The second criticism involves possible alteration of lymph as it traverses the caudal mediastinal lymph node. The lymphatic is cleared of any fascia and fat tissue over an area 1 to 4 mm proximal of the ligation by gently rubbing with a cotton-tipped applicator. Several factors should be considered prior to initiating specific experimental protocols. However, there are variations in endotoxin infusion and the sheep preparation that may be of interest to an investigator. The choice of anesthesia during surgery is optional. Another potentially useful sheep preparation in the study of endotoxemia is the pump perfused in situ lung lymph preparation.
