Effects of normobaric oxygen on ciliary beat frequency of human respiratory epithelium

Respiratory infection is a major cause of morbidity after general anaesthesia. Impairment of respiratory ciliary beat frequency (CBF) by different stress factors causes a decrease in mucus transport rate (MTR). We have tested the effect of different concentrations of oxygen on CBF of human respiratory epithelium in a prospective, randomized, in vitro study. Samples of superficial mucosa of the inferior nasal turbinates of 20 non-smoking healthy volunteers were harvested and exposed to three different oxygen environments (group I = 21% oxygen, group II = 60% oxygen and group III = 95% oxygen) for 2 h. In 50% of the samples, exposure time was prolonged. At 30, 60, 90, 120 and 240 min, light m…