Impact of allograft ischemic time on long-term survival in lung transplantation: a Swedish monocentric study

Abstract

Purpose: The influence of allograft ischemic time (IT) on short- and long-term mortality remains under debate in lung transplantation (LTx). Due to a scarcity in donors, better understanding of IT might improve the outcome after LTx. Methods: Between January 1990 and June 2016; 307 patients underwent LTx at Lund university hospital, Sweden. The end-point used was death/Re-LTx assessed by Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival. Results: Kaplan–Meier survival for mean IT (min) between subgroups ≤120, 121–240, 241–360 and 361+ showed significant difference for pairwise-comparisons with superior outcome for IT between ≤120 and 240 min. Cox regression analyses for each hour of IT in patients with a limited survival up to 1- and 5-year had a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.119 and 1.063 respectively (p < .05). Conclusions: In LTx, every 2-hour increase of IT is equivalent to an increased mortality of up to 24% within 5 years. LTx with an IT of ≤120 min had a superior survival in both 1- and 5 years in comparison to an IT of up to 360 min. Better application of IT provides a key role in improving LTx outcome.