Hydrogen Gas Protects Liver During Surgery in Dogs
Protective effects of hydrogen on oxidative stress and liver function during CO2 pneumoperitoneum in dogs
Research hubs: Oxidative Stress · Digestive System
This research was done in animals. Results in animals often don't carry over to people.
- Evidence type
- Animal study (dog)
- Authors
- JIANTAO ZHANG, XIAOYAN ZHENG, LIHONG JIANG, TAO ZE, TAO LIU
- Journal
- Medycyna Weterynaryjna
- Year
- 2020
- Study Type
- Dog
- Participants
- 18
- Delivery
- Gas
- Dose
- 0.2 mL/kg subcutaneous injection for 10 min
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 1 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- China
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 (excerpt)
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…