Hydrogen Gas Protects Liver During Surgery in Dogs
- Authors
- JIANTAO ZHANG, XIAOYAN ZHENG, LIHONG JIANG, TAO ZE, TAO LIU
- Journal
- Medycyna Weterynaryjna
- Year
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.21521/mw.6459
- Study Type
- Dog
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- China
- Health Condition
- Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
- Body System
- Hepatic
TL;DR
Injecting hydrogen gas into dogs reduced liver damage and improved liver function during a type of abdominal surgery that uses carbon dioxide gas.
Key Finding
Dogs that received hydrogen gas injection before CO2 pneumoperitoneum showed significantly less liver damage, better liver function markers, and reduced oxidative stress compared to dogs that underwent the procedure without hydrogen treatment.
Summary
This study tested whether hydrogen gas could protect the liver from damage during laparoscopic surgery in dogs. Researchers compared three groups: dogs under anesthesia only, dogs undergoing a simulated laparoscopic procedure with carbon dioxide inflation, and dogs receiving a hydrogen gas injection before the same procedure. The hydrogen-treated dogs showed less liver damage, better liver function, and lower markers of cellular stress compared to dogs that did not receive hydrogen.
Practical Takeaway
While this animal study suggests hydrogen gas may help protect the liver during laparoscopic surgery, it was conducted only in dogs and does not directly demonstrate effects in humans. More research, including human trials, would be needed before hydrogen therapy could be considered for surgical applications in people.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of hydrogen reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury during CO2 pneumoperitoneum on oxidative stress and liver function. Eighteen healthy Beagle dogs were divided into three groups. Dogs in the control group were subjected only to anesthesia for 90 min. The pneumoperitoneum group was subjected to the pressure of CO2 pneumoperitoneum with 12 mmHg intraabdominal pressure for 90 min. The hydrogen group was subjected to the pressure of CO2 pneumoperitoneum with 12 mmHg intra-abdominal pressure for 90 min after a subcutaneous injection of hydrogen gas (0.2 mL/kg) for 10 min. Blood samples were collected before the induction of pneumoperitoneum, as well as 2 h and 6 h after deflation, to evaluate oxidative stress and liver function in serum. Liver tissue samples were taken 6 h after deflation for histopathological examination. In comparison with group P, a milder histopathological change was found in group H2, and the levels of hepatic function and anti-oxidation in group H2 were higher. Hydrogen gas reduced liver ischemia-reperfusion injury due to CO2 pneumoperitoneum by reducing oxidative stress and improving liver function. Hydrogen gas therapy can be considered as a way to reduce liver ischemiareperfusion injury in laparoscopic surgery.