ObjectiveTo explore the effects of dexmedetomidine on the lung tissue aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and lung function in patients undergoing one-lung ventilation (OLV). MethodsA total of 40 patients scheduled for thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer were selected and randomly divided into control group (C group) and dexmedetomidine group (DEX group), with 20 cases in each group. Both groups were performed OLV. After the anesthesia induction, the DEX group received an intravenous infusion of a loading dose of 0.5 μg/(kg·h) dexmedetomidine (administration time ＞10 minutes), followed by a 0.5 μg/(kg·h) infusion velocity which was maintained until 30 minutes before the end of the surgery, while the C group was given the same amount of normal saline. Before administration (T0), OLV 60 minutes (T1), OLV 90 minutes (T2), OLV 120 minutes (T3), and 30 minutes after recovering to double-lung ventilation (T4), the radial artery blood sample was obtained for blood gas analysis; the respiratory index (RI), oxygenation index (OI), and lung compliance (CL) were calculated. Right before OLV and when the pulmonary lobe left the body, the lung tissues were obtained to detect the expression of AQP1 in the lung. ResultsAt T0, the RI, OI, and CL had no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P＞0.05). Compared with T0, the two groups had higher RI and lower OI and CL from T1 to T4 (all P＜0.05). As compared with the C group, the DEX group had higher OI but lower RI from T1 to T4, and higher CL from T2 to T4 (all P＜0.05). When the pulmonary lobe left the body, the C group had lower AQP1 expression than that before OLV and the DEX group (all P＜0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in the AQP1 expression of the DEX group when the pulmonary lobe left the body and before OLV (P＞0.05). ConclusionDexmedetomidine can improve oxygenation, respiratory mechanics, and lung function during OLV; its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of AQP1 expression in the lung tissues.

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