Hydrogen Gas Reduces Heart Surgery Inflammation in Rat Study
Insufflation of Hydrogen Gas Restrains the Inflammatory Response of Cardiopulmonary Bypass in a Rat Model
Research hubs: Cardiovascular System · Respiratory System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (rat)
- Authors
- Yutaka Fujii, Mikiyasu Shirai, Shuji Inamori, Akito Shimouchi, Takashi Sonobe, Hirotsugu Tsuchimochi, James T. Pearson, Yoshiaki Takewa, Eisuke Tatsumi, Yoshiyuki Taenaka
- Journal
- Artificial Organs
- Year
- 2012
- PMID
- 23020073
- Study Type
- Rat
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- H2 insufflation via oxygenator during 60 min cardiopulmonary bypass
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 29 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- Japan
TL;DR
Breathing in hydrogen gas during heart surgery may help reduce harmful inflammation caused by the use of a heart-lung machine.
Key Finding
Hydrogen gas administered during cardiopulmonary bypass significantly reduced inflammatory markers and prevented lung fluid accumulation in rats, compared to bypass without hydrogen treatment.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen gas could reduce inflammation in rats undergoing heart-lung bypass surgery (a procedure that temporarily takes over the heart and lung functions during cardiac surgery). Researchers compared three groups of rats: those that had surgery without bypass, those that had bypass without hydrogen, and those that had bypass with hydrogen gas added. The group receiving hydrogen gas showed lower levels of inflammatory markers (chemical signals of inflammation) and less fluid buildup in the lungs compared to the bypass-only group.
Practical Takeaway
This early animal study suggests hydrogen gas may help reduce inflammation during heart-lung bypass surgery, but these findings are from rats only and would need to be tested in humans before any clinical application. The results are preliminary and do not yet indicate whether hydrogen would be safe or effective in cardiac surgery patients.
Abstract (excerpt)
AbstractSystemic inflammatory responses in patients receiving cardiac surgery with the use of the cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) significantly contribute to CPB‐associated morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that insufflated hydrogen gas (H2) would provide systemic anti‐inflammatory…