Cardiopulmonary bypass, controlled reperfusion and C-1 esterase inhibitor prevent reperfusion injury in clinical lung transplantation

Abstract

Postoperative graft failure remains the major risk factor for early mortality after lung transplantation. To reduce potential deleterious effects of reperfusion injury, cardiopulmonary bypass was routinely used allowing for controlled allograft reperfusion by pulmonary artery (PA) venting. In addition, C-1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) was given. Allograft function and recipient survival in bilateral sequential lung transplantation were assessed.