Anna Vaycheslavovna Deryugina, Darya Andreevna Danilova, Yurii Dmitrievich Brichkin, Evgenii Vladimirovich Taranov, Evgenii Ivanovich Nazarov, Vladimir Viktorovich Pichugin, Aleksandr Pavlovich Medvedev, Michail Valerevich Riazanov, Sergey Andreevich Fedorov, Andrej Yurevich Smorkalov, Evgenii Vladimirovich Makarov
Source: Medical Gas Research, Volume 13, Issue 2 (2023)

Background

Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is considered a preventive and therapeutic medical gas in the treatment of various diseases.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of molecular hydrogen as a component of anaesthesia during surgical treatment of acquired valvular defects using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), with a focus on its effect on the functional state of red blood cells (RBCs) and functional indicators of cardiac activity.

Methods

This clinical study was conducted on 24 patients at a specialised cardiac surgery hospital in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Federation, undergoing elective surgery with CPB. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 12 patients (the study group) who received hydrogen at a concentration of 1.5–2.0% via a face mask using a ventilator breathing circuit, in conjunction with anaesthesia, immediately following tracheal intubation and throughout the duration of the surgery. The second group (the control group) also included 12 patients who did not receive hydrogen.

Blood samples were collected from peripheral veins and the radial artery at four stages: immediately after the induction of anaesthesia (Stage 1), before the initiation of CPB (Stage 2), immediately after its completion (Stage 3), and 24 hours after surgery (early postoperative period – Stage 4).

Results

In the study group, an increase in electrophoretic mobility, enhanced red blood cell metabolism, and a reduction in erythrocyte aggregation were observed in comparison with the control group. The reduction in oxidative stress markers was most notable one day after surgery in the study group. A statistically significant difference in myocardial contractile function indicators was observed between the study and control groups on postoperative Days 1 and 3.

Conclusion

Inhalation of H₂ leads to an improvement in the functional state of red blood cells, contributing to a more favourable course in the early postoperative period. These findings highlight the protective properties of molecular hydrogen.

Citation:
Deryugina AV, Danilova DA, Brichkin YD, Taranov EV, Nazarov EI, Pichugin VV, Medvedev AP, Riazanov MV, Fedorov SA, Andrej YS, Makarov EV. Molecular hydrogen exposure improves functional state of red blood cells in the early postoperative period: a randomised clinical study. Med Gas Res. 2023 Apr–Jun;13(2):59–66. doi: 10.4103/2045-9912.356473. PMID: 36204784; PMCID: PMC9555031.