Methods: Thirty New Zealand Wistar albino rabbits weighing between 2750 and 3000 grams were used in the study and divided into three groups. In the first (control) group, normal saline (0.09% NaCl); in the second group, silver nitrate (0.5%); and in the third group, chlorhexidine gluconate (0.04%) was administered intrathraceally. Thirty days after the procedure, the tracheobronchial and parenchymal changes in the subjects were evaluated histopathologically. Tracheobronchial changes were evaluated with respect to tracheal pathology whereas peribronchial lymphocytic infiltration and parenchymal changes were evaluated with respect to interstitial lymphocytic infiltration, hemorrhage-edema, fibrosis and pneumonitis.

Results: The rate of interstitial lymphocytic infiltration was higher in the chlorhexidine gluconate group than in the control group, and the rates of fibrosis and fibrin accumulation were higher in the silver nitrate group than in the control group. No statistically significant differences in other parameters were found between the groups.

Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that chlorhexidine gluconate (0.04%) has minimal negative effects on the rabbit lung and tracheobronchial mucosa and is a more reliable agent than silver nitrate.