Lung Transplantation: Is the Switch to Interrupted Suturing Worth it?

Abstract

Purpose Currently the continuous suturing technique is used on the bronchial anastomosis during lung transplantation. This study investigated that technique vs. the interrupted suturing technique, comparing survival and occurrence of post-operative bronchial complications to examine if a switch in technique is merited. Methods Survival outcomes of 721 single-center lung transplant recipients over 8 years (Feb-2012 to Mar-2020) were compared. Continuous suturing technique was performed with 3/0 polypropylene suture on an SH needle. Interrupted used the same technique for the membranous portion of the anastomosis and multiple interrupted 2/0 polypropylene sutures for the cartilaginous portion. Clinical parameters and demographics were compared. The two groups were compared for post-operative morbidity and survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves. Log-rank tests were performed, as was Cox regression analysis, with p Results Of the 721 patients, 429 received the continuous suturing technique while 292 had interrupted suturing technique. Demographics and clinical parameters compared were: age (p=0.008), gender (p=0.643), race (p=0.268), etiology (p Conclusion Although both techniques showed reasonable post-transplant outcomes, our study indicated better survival and relatively fewer complications when using interrupted suturing technique vs continuous. Further long-term study of similar groups with similar long-term follow up in these two groups should be performed to validate this effect.