A canine bilateral single-lung transplantation model was used to evaluate 21-hour lung preservation with low-potassium dextran glucose solution. Donor lungs were flushed with low-potassium dextran glucose solution (50 mL/kg), inflated with 100% oxygen (35 mL/kg), and preserved at 8 degrees C. Bilateral single-lung transplantation was performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass. The ischemic times to the right and left lungs were designed to be 3 and 6 hours, respectively, in group 1 (n = 5) and 18 and 21 hours in group 2 (n = 6). After bilateral single-lung transplantation, animals were maintained on a ventilator for 12 hours and lung function, including arterial blood gas and pulmonary hemodynamics, was measured. All 5 dogs in group 1 and 5 of 6 dogs in group 2 completed bilateral single-lung transplantation successfully and survived for 12 hours with excellent lung function. Arterial oxygen tension and mean pulmonary artery pressure were stable during the 12-hour assessment period in both groups and did not differ significantly from donor values. Twelve hours after reperfusion, mean arterial oxygen tension (inspired oxygen fraction = 1.0) was 590 +/- 18 mm Hg in group 1 and 604 +/- 8 mm Hg in group 2. After the 12-hour assessment period, the animals were extubated and immunosuppressed. Two dogs in group 2 survived for 7 and 8 days, respectively, with a mean arterial oxygen tension of 74 mm Hg on room air at 5 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)