Current trends in lung transplantation

Abstract

Heart-lung transplantation remains the only therapeutic option for patients with combined end-stage cardiopulmonary disease. Because of the scarcity of heart-lung donors, we have been investigating other surgical alternatives for patients with end-stage vascular and parenchymal lung disease. From June 1989 through June 1991, 48 patients underwent pulmonary transplantation. Seventeen of the 48 patients underwent single lung transplantation. Of the 17 patients in the single lung group, eight patients had pulmonary hypertension and nine had parenchymal lung disease. Four of the 17 patients underwent repair of a cardiac defect with single lung transplantation. One-year actuarial survival was 68%. Pulmonary function has been excellent. The forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 79.6 +/- 13.6 (percent predicted), forced expiratory flow 25%-75% was 72.6 +/- 14.5 (percent predicted), and arterial oxygen tension was 82.8 +/- 10.06 mm Hg when measured at annual follow-up in a group of eight patients without obliterative bronchiolitis. Pulmonary artery pressures of systemic level or greater in the group with pulmonary vascular disease were normal at annual catheterization. Most patients had at least one episode of allograft rejection. Actuarial freedom from rejection at the end of 3 months was 30%. Three of the 17 single lung patients receiving lung lobes were children. Two children received living-related lobe transplants and one neonate received a lobe from a 2-year-old cadaver donor. Single lung transplantation is an effective therapeutic option for selected patients with vascular or parenchymal lung disease. Expanding indications will permit more individuals to receive transplants from the existing donor pool. Living-related and cadaver lobe transplantation will also increase the options available to children in need of lung transplantation.