Simultaneous lung volume reduction surgery in the treatment of lung volume mismatch after single lung transplantation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of simultaneous lung volume reduction surgery in the treatment of lung volume mismatch after single lung transplantation. Methods Twenty-four single lung transplantations were performed on 20 male and 4 female patients, with a mean age of 54. 6 ± 12. 2 years (ranging from 28 to 75 years). Indications for transplantation included end-stage chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) in 14 cases, COPD combined with upper lobe lung destruction in 1 case, COPD combined with pneumoconiosis in 1 case, end-stage interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in 6 cases, lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in 1 case, and post-transplantation bronchiolitis obliterans syndrom (BOS) in 1 case. Sixteen cases had right-side and 8 cases had left-side lung transplantation. Lung volume reduction surgeries were performed through open thoracotomy. Graft lung volume reduction was carried out through the same incision as transplantation, and native lung volume reduction through a small anterior lateral incision contralaterally. Patients were divided into lung volume reduction group (group Ⅰ) and control group (group Ⅱ). There were 8 cases in group Ⅰ,including 5 graft lung, 2 native lung, and 1 graft and native lung volume reduction surgeries. In group Ⅱ, there were 16 cases that had no further treatment for lung volume mismatch. Differences in various clinical parameters between the two groups were compared. Results Two out of 14 (14.3%) patients with COPD accepted lung volume reduction, which was significantly lower than that in patients with other diseases (6 out of 10, 60%, P＜0. 05). Post-transplantation chest X-ray showed that 50.0% and 25% of patients had an undeflected mediastinum in group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ, respectively (P＜0. 05).None of the other clinical parameters had significant difference between the two groups (P＞0.05).But a tendency of increase in mechanical ventilation, chest tube drainage time, air leak time, volume of chest drainage, and a tendency of decrease in times and volume of thoracentesis could be observed in group Ⅰ. Lung function test was not performed on 8 cases after transplantation. Sixteen cases (4 in group Ⅰ, 12 in group Ⅱ) had complete lung function data. There was no significant difference in FEV1 improvement after lung transplantation between the two groups (P＞0. 05). Conclusion Simultaneous graft or native lung volume reduction surgery is a safe and effective way of ameliorating lung volume mismatch after single lung transplantation, probably by improving ventilation-perfusion ratio. Key words: Lung transplantation; Lung volume reduction; Lung volume mismatch