Superior Effects of Nebulized Epinephrine to Nebulized Albuterol and Phenylephrine in Burn and Smoke Inhalation-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Shock. 2020 Dec;54(6):774-782. doi: 10.1097/SHK.0000000000001590.

Abstract

The severity of burn and smoke inhalation-induced acute lung injury (BSI-ALI) is associated with alveolar and interstitial edema, bronchospasm, and airway mucosal hyperemia. Previously, we have reported beneficial effects of epinephrine nebulization on BSI-ALI. However, the underlying mechanisms of salutary effects of nebulized epinephrine remain unclear. The present study compared the effects of epinephrine, phenylephrine, and albuterol on a model of BSI-ALI. We tested the hypothesis that both α1- and β2-agonist effects are required for ameliorating more efficiently the BSI-ALI. Forty percent of total body surface area, 3rd-degree cutaneous burn, and 48-breaths of cotton smoke inhalation were induced to 46 female Merino sheep. Postinjury, sheep were mechanically ventilated and cardiopulmonary hemodynamics were monitored for 48 h. Sheep were allocated into groups: control, n = 17; epinephrine, n = 11; phenylephrine, n = 6; and albuterol, n = 12. The drug nebulization began 1 h postinjury and was repeated every 4 h thereafter. In the results, epinephrine group significantly improved oxygenation compared to other groups, and significantly reduced pulmonary vascular permeability index, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and lung tissue growth factor-β1 level compared with albuterol and control groups. Epinephrine and phenylephrine groups significantly reduced trachea wet-to-dry weight ratio and lung vascular endothelial growth factor-A level compared with control group. Histopathologically, epinephrine group significantly reduced lung severity scores and preserved vascular endothelial-cadherin level in pulmonary arteries. In conclusion, the results of our studies suggest that nebulized epinephrine more effectively ameliorated the severity of BSI-ALI than albuterol or phenylephrine, possibly by its combined α1- and β2-agonist properties.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury* / drug therapy
  • Acute Lung Injury* / metabolism
  • Acute Lung Injury* / pathology
  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Albuterol / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Burns* / drug therapy
  • Burns* / metabolism
  • Burns* / pathology
  • Epinephrine / pharmacology*
  • Female
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Phenylephrine / pharmacology*
  • Sheep
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury* / drug therapy
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury* / metabolism
  • Smoke Inhalation Injury* / pathology

Substances

  • Phenylephrine
  • Albuterol
  • Epinephrine