Lung Transplantation In Japan Research Articles

Registry of the Japanese Society of Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation: official Japanese lung transplantation report, 2014.

The number of organ donations after brain death has significantly increased since the revised Japanese Organ Transplant Law took effect in July 2010. Sixty-one lung transplantations were conducted throughout Japan in 2013, including 20 living-donor lung transplantations and 41 brain-dead-donor lung transplantations (23 bilateral lungs, 17 single lungs, and 1 heart-lung transplantation). The number of lung transplant candidates newly registered at the Japan Organ Transplantation Network also increased to 126 in 2013, suggesting a severe donor shortage in Japan. More than 60 % of offered brain-dead-donor, lungs were used for transplantation, indicating the effort of Japanese lung transplant centers to overcome the challenge of donor shortage. After lung transplantation, patients generally enjoyed a good quality of life with excellent survival of 86.2 % at 1 year, 79.6 % at 3 years, and 73.7 % at 5 years post-transplantation. There was no significant difference in patient survival between living-donor and brain-dead-donor lung transplantation. Early mortality of lung transplant recipients within 90 days was attributable to graft failure followed by infection, while long-term mortality was mostly explained by chronic lung allograft dysfunction (chronic rejection), infection, and malignancy. Eight lung transplant centers are currently approved to conduct lung transplantation in Japan (Tohoku, Dokkyo, Chiba, Kyoto, Osaka, Okayama, Fukuoka, and Nagasaki Universities). These centers are expected to continue to make a special effort to save critically ill patients waiting for lung transplantation.

Results of Surveillance Bronchoscopy After Cadaveric Lung Transplantation: A Japanese Single-Institution Study

BackgroundThe prevention and early detection of post-transplantation rejection and infection are key clinical points to achieve long-term survival after lung transplantation. Although surveillance bronchoscopy (SB) is performed in many transplantation centers, it is still controversial because of its undefined clinical significance and its possible complications. We evaluated the clinical utility of SB after cadaveric lung transplantation in Japan, where bilateral transplantation is officially limited to patients medically requiring bilateral grafts. Patients and MethodsTwenty-eight patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation followed by SB were retrospectively analyzed with reference to the results of bronchoscopy. SB is routinely performed at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after lung transplantation and annually thereafter. Clinically indicated bronchoscopy (CIB) is considered in patients with suspected rejection or airway infection, and for follow-up examination after treatment for acute rejection. ResultsThere were 206 bronchoscopies, including 189 SBs and 17 CIBs, performed in 28 patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation between 2000 and 2013 at Osaka University Hospital. Among SBs, 92 (49%) showed positive results of transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and intervention was applied following 34 SBs (18%). Among CIBs, 8 (47%) showed positive results of TBLB or BAL, with intervention performed in 3 patients (18%). A2-3 and B2R findings according to the revised International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) rejection score and airway infection/colonization were frequently observed within a year following lung transplantation. Cytomegalovirus infection was found in 7 SBs (6%) by TBLB only within 2 months after transplantation. Regarding complications, moderate bleeding occurred in 21 (11%), pneumothorax in 2 (1%), prolonged hypoxemia in 1 (0.5%), and pneumonia in 1 (0.5%) among the 189 SBs. ConclusionSB frequently detects rejection and airway infection or colonization with minimum complications, especially within 12 months after cadaveric lung transplantation.

Survival Benefit of Lung Transplantation in Japan: Extreme Donor Shortage and the Potential Role of Living Transplantation

Purpose Cadaveric lung transplantation (LTx) in Japan has multiple limitations including 1) extreme donor shortage (only 44 cadaveric brain-death donors with 37 cadaveric LTx cases across Japan in 2011); 2) limited recipient age below 55 for bilateral and 60 for single LTx; 3) priority of LTx determined solely by waiting time on the list. Thus, living LTx could be the only life-saving option for those who cannot wait for cadaveric LTx. We examined the survival benefit of LTx (either cadaveric or living) among those who were listed for cadaveric LTx in Japan. Methods and Materials The relative risks of death on the waiting list and death after LTx were evaluated using multivariate Cox models. Reception of LTx was treated as censored on the list. Since the initiation of the current Japanese listing system in 1998, patients who were listed by July 31, 2012 were included in the study. Results 617 patients were listed and 174 received LTx (139 cadaveric, 35 living). Average waiting time for cadaveric LTx on the list was 966±676 (10-4507) days. In multivariate Cox regression models, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) showed the most significant risk of death on waiting list (n=115; hazard ratio (HR), 3.53; confidence interval (CI), 2.34-5.31; reference, PAH), while the risk of death after LTx (n=23, including cadaveric (n=15) and living (n=8)) was moderate (HR, 0.85; CI, 0.36-2.01; ref, PAH). Treating the conditions of being on cadacveric-LTx list and being post-LTx as time-dependent covariates, the estimated survival benefit of LTx was most significant in IPF (HR, 0.26; CI, 0.097-0.746). This trend persisted in subanalyses of living and cadaveric LTx. Conclusions IPF showed the most significant survival benefit by LTx. This is explained by their poor prognosis without LTx and reasonable outcome after LTx. Adult-to-adult living LTx, which appears suitable for relatively old IPF patients with small thorax, remains the only life-saving option for many IPF patients who cannot wait for cadaveric LTx.

Registry of the Japanese society of lung and heart–lung transplantation: the official Japanese lung transplantation report 2012

The Japanese Organ Transplant Law was amended, and the revised law took effect in July 2010 to overcome extreme donor shortage and to increase the availability of donor organs from brain-dead donors. It is now possible to procure organs from children. The year 2011 was the first year that it was possible to examine the results of this first extensive revision of the Japanese Organ Transplant Law, which took effect in 1997. Currently, seven transplant centers, including Tohoku, Dokkyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Okayama, Fukuoka and Nagasaki Universities, are authorized to perform lung transplantation in Japan, and by the end of 2011, a total of 239 lung transplants had been performed. The number of transplants per year and the ratio of brain-dead donor transplants increased dramatically after the revision of the Japanese Organ Transplant Law. The survival rates for lung transplant recipients registered with the Japanese Society for Lung and Heart-lung Transplantation were 93.3 % at 1 month, 91.5 % at 3 months, 86.3 % at 1 year, 79.0 % at 3 years, and 73.1 % at 5 years. The survival curves for brain-dead donor and living-donor lung transplantation were similar. The survival outcomes for both brain-dead and living-donor lung transplants were better than those reported by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. However, donor shortage remains a limitation of lung transplantation in Japan. The lung transplant centers in Japan should continue to make a special effort to save critically ill patients waiting for lung transplantation.

The first successful heart–lung transplantation in Japan: report of a case

Although legislation regarding organ transplantation from brain-dead donors in Japan was approved in 1997, no heart-lung transplantation procedures were performed for some time. Herein, we report the first case of successful heart-lung transplantation in Japan. The recipient was a 35-year-old man with Eisenmenger syndrome, caused by a double outlet right ventricle, who had been suffering hemoptysis and continued NYHA class 3-4 symptoms for 66 months since being registered on the waiting list. He underwent heart-lung transplantation from a 30-year-old donor. The organ ischemic time was 247 min, the postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 66 days after the transplant surgery.

4. Present Status of Lung Transplantation in Japan

4. Present Status of Lung Transplantation in Japan

本邦における肺移植の現況と今後の展望

本邦における肺移植の現況と今後の展望

Prospect of lung transplantation in Japan

Prospect of lung transplantation in Japan

First registry report: lung transplantation in Japan

A total of 87 lung transplants has been performed for the 9 years since 1998 in Japan. Because of the shortage of brain-dead donors, living-donor lobar lung transplantation accounted for two-thirds of lung transplantation in Japan. The most common indication was primary pulmonary hypertension. The distributions of procedure type and indication were characteristic for Japan. Despite the limited number and the short follow-up period, the survival for Japanese recipients was better than the international average, and the quality of life after lung transplantation was excellent. To increase the number of available pulmonary grafts, we have tried various strategies, such as active use of marginal donors, careful donor management, and development of new preservation solutions, but the shortage of brain-dead donors remains a serious problem. The current transplant laws need to be reconsidered.

Lung transplantation in Japan.

The first successful living-donor lobar lung transplant (LDLLT) in Japan was performed at Okayama University in October 1998 after a long period of waiting for the legalization of thoracic organ transplantation. By May 2003, a further 41 lung transplants had been performed; 28 from living donors and 13 from cadaveric donors. The indications for a lung transplant are very specialized in Japan, the most common being primary pulmonary hypertension. Although the number of lung transplants is still small, survival in Japan, at 72% after 4 years, is better than the world average. Because the number of available cadaveric donors for lung transplantation is limited, at less than 5 per year, LDLLT is a realistic option for properly selected candidates.

Assessment of brain-dead cadaver donor for lung transplantation in Japan

Assessment of brain-dead cadaver donor for lung transplantation in Japan

Referrals for lung transplantation in Japan. Unique indications and necessity of living-donor lobar lung transplantation.

The purpose of this study was to review all referrals to our lung transplant program and to find realistic options for accepted candidates in Japan. During the period from April 1992 to August 1999, 45 referrals were received. After screening, 22 of the referred patients were admitted for an extensive inpatient evaluation, and 15 of these were accepted as candidates for transplantation. The indication was primary pulmonary hypertension in 9, bronchiectasis in 2, lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 2, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 1, and pneumoconiosis in the other 1. Two of those with primary pulmonary hypertension went to the USA and there received bilateral lung transplant. One with bronchiectasis received living-donor lobar lung transplantation in our center. These three recipients are alive and doing well during the follow-up period of 11 to 69 months. Among the 12 patients who have not received lung transplant, 5 patients have died while waiting. Indications for lung transplant are quite distinct in Japan, and primary pulmonary hypertension is the most frequent indication. Living-donor lobar lung transplantation is a realistic option for properly selected candidates.