Effects of methylprednisolone on resolution of acid-aspiration pneumonitis

S. Gates, T. Huang and F. W. Cheney

We studied the effects of methylprednisolone sodium succinate on the pulmonary function of unanesthetized dogs for four days after aspiration of 1.5 to 2.0 mL/kg of 0.1N hydrochloric acid. Methylprednisolone sodium succinate (30 mg/kg) was administered to nine dogs at 2, 8, and 24 hours after acid aspiration. Nine animals were untreated after aspiration and served as controls. Acid aspiration caused significant increases in venous admixture and reductions in Pao2 in both groups of animals. These changes persisted for 96 hours after aspiration. There were no differences in cardiac output, venous admixture, and blood gas values between treated and untreated animals at any time. At death there were no differences between groups in amounts of lung water or histologic characteristics. We concluded that methylprednisolone administered after hydrochloric acid aspiration does not affect resolution of the injury.