Aspirin increases tissue oedema after skeletal muscle ischaemia and reperfusion.

Abstract

Skeletal muscle ischaemia reperfusion syndrome affects patients following lower limb revascularisation. Aspirin has the potential to attenuate these effects. Using an established model of hind limb tourniquet ischaemia, the effects of oral and intravenous aspirin administration were observed after 6 h of ischaemia and 18 h reperfusion. Samples were obtained and analysed for muscle viability and oedema, and lung neutrophil infiltration. Aspirin, when compared to placebo and controls, significantly increased muscle interstitial oedema when given orally and intravenously. It had no effect on tissue viability or lung neutrophil infiltration. Aspirin increases tissue oedema after ischaemia and reperfusion but has no effect on tissue viability. Although its mechanism of action has not been clarified, aspirin may influence the no-reflow component of ischaemia-reperfusion syndrome.