42例肺移植单中心8年临床经验总结

目的 总结分析肺移植受者术后并发症和生存预后的影响因素.方法 回顾性分析42例肺移植临床疗效、预后和并发症发生情况,并探讨性别、年龄、原发疾病等因素对受者预后的影响.结果围手术期死亡为14.3％.术后1、3和5年的累积生存率分别为89％、59％和38％.术后1、3和5年生存率COPD组为83％、66％ 、45％,非COPD组为78％、17％和17％,P=0.013.伊曲康唑或卡泊芬净预防性抗真菌治疗的受者术后真菌感染的发生率明显降低(P=0.016).术后肺部感染发生率为20％,气管吻合口软化、狭窄发生率9.5％.急性排斥反应发生率为35％,BOS发生率22.5％.再移植2例.结论 原发肺基础疾病是影响肺移植预后的重要因素之一；肺部感染和支气管吻合口软化、狭窄是术后主要并发症.     

肺移植围手术期并发症防治单中心经验

目的探讨肺移植围手术期并发症的预防和处理。方法 2002年9月至2011年4月无锡市人民医院共完成临床肺移植105例：单肺移植73例,双肺移植32例。其中63例在体外循环支持下完成手术。术后带管进入ICU行机械通气、免疫抑制、预防感染和原发性移植物失功（PGD）等治疗。根据国际心肺移植学会的PGD分级分别给予受者液体负平衡、延长呼吸机治疗时间、前列腺素E1及体外膜肺氧合等治疗。结果 105例肺移植受者围手术期存活率为81.9%（86/105）,死亡原因包括肺部感染10例,PGD6例,肺梗死、急性排斥反应、支气管吻合口瘘各1例。围手术期主要并发症包括严重肺部感染12例、PGD3级10例、支气管吻合口狭窄10例、支气管吻合口瘘4例、急性排斥反应3例、出血3例、肺动脉栓塞3例、肺动脉狭窄1例和下肢深静脉血栓1例。86例存活受者心肺功能和生存质量均较好。结论防治感染、免疫抑制、液体负平衡、延长呼吸机治疗时间等围手术期管理可减少术后并发症和降低受者病死率。     

单肺移植术治疗终末期肺疾病11例

目的总结单肺移植治疗终末期肺病的早期临床结果和经验。方法2003年1月至2005年9月，为11例终末期肺疾病患者施行了单肺移植术，其中右侧单肺移植7例，左侧单肺移植4例。有2例受者接受同一供者的左、右肺。结果目前有6例单肺移植受者术后生存1年以上，其中3例存活2年以上；3例存活6个月以上。9例存活的受者生活均能自理，活动良好。术后2个月肺功能复查：动脉血氧分压（PaO2）均〉80mmHg，较术前提高37．6％；有8例受者第1秒用力呼气量（FEV1）较术前提高165．2％。2例死亡的受者中，1例因术中大出血死亡；1例淋巴管平滑肌瘤受者术后3个月后死于顽固性乳糜胸。受者术后急性排斥反应平均发生率为1．2次；4例术后并发曲霉菌感染；3例术后出现支气管狭窄；2例术后并发严重肺部感染；1例术后36h出现缺血／再灌注损伤；1例术后7d并发胃底黏膜撕脱继发上消化道大出血；1例术后1年出现慢性排斥反应。结论单肺移植是治疗终末期肺疾病的有效方法。肺移植术后并发症发生率高，应进行有效的预防和治疗。     

单肺移植治疗终末期慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者单中心经验

目的探讨单肺移植治疗终末期慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者的疗效、预后相关因素及术后并发症防治。方法回顾性分析同济大学附属上海市肺科医院2003年1月至2011年2月施行的23例终末期COPD患者单肺移植的临床资料,分析术后临床疗效、预后和并发症发生情况,并探讨性别、年龄、原发病等因素对受者预后的影响。结果 COPD患者术后肺通气功能和动脉血气分析结果均明显改善。气管吻合口并发症发生率为13.0%;围手术期病死率为4.3%。术后肺部真菌感染发生率为39.1%,伊曲康唑或卡泊芬净＋两性霉素B预防性抗真菌治疗的受者术后真菌感染的发生率明显降低（P=0.035）。急性排斥反应发生率为34.8%,闭塞性细支气管炎发生率为26.1%。受者术后1、3和5年存活率分别为83%、66%和45%。单肺再次移植2例。结论单肺移植治疗终末期COPD是安全、有效的方法,受者选择和术后并发症的防治对受者长期生存有重要意义。     

肺移植术后气道吻合口狭窄的诊治进展

肺移植是治疗多数终末期肺病的唯一有效手段,而气道吻合口并发症是限制肺移植受者术后存活及生存质量的主要障碍。气道吻合口狭窄是肺移植术后最常见的气道吻合口并发症。近年来,受者选择、器官保存、外科技术、术后重症监护管理、免疫抑制、抗真菌及内镜治疗等方面的改进,降低了气道吻合口狭窄的发生率,改善了肺移植手术结果和受者生存情况。现就肺移植术后气道吻合口狭窄的病因及危险因素、诊断与治疗进行综述,为临床研究和诊疗肺移植术后气道吻合口狭窄提供新的思路。     

肺移植后因并发症多次手术一例体会

我科于2006年7月施行了天津市第1例肺移植手术,此例肺移植受者在短短4个月的时间内,经历了左侧单肺移植术、肺动脉吻合口狭窄矫正修补术、双肺移植术、支气管吻合口漏修补术共4次手术.虽然患者最终死亡,但是留给了我们许多经验和教训,现报告如下.     

肺移植治疗终末期肺气肿19例报告

目的 探讨肺移植治疗终末期肺气肿的手术适应证、术式的选择及术后疗效.方法 报告肺移植治疗终末期肺气肿19例,患者术前CT检查均以弥漫性肺气肿为主,均经2～3年不同程度的吸氧治疗,其中依赖呼吸机的有5例.手术方式分别为:单肺移植6例;单肺移植加对侧肺减容术7例;双肺移植6例.结合这19例患者的肺移植效果进行分析和总结.结果 单肺移植的受者中,术后第1天内有2例受者胸腔引流量超过2000 ml,再次剖胸探查止血.19例受者术后机械通气时间为3～22 d,平均呼吸机脱机时间为7 d.术后1个月内死亡5例,死亡原因分别为:原发性移植物功能丧失1例、支气管吻合口漏1例、重症急性排斥反应(4A级)1例及重症细菌和霉菌感染2例.6例双肺移植的受者术后早期均康复出院.19例患者术后1、2、3年存活率分别为73.7%、63.2%和52.6%.结论 肺移植是治疗终末期肺气肿最有效的方法;单肺移植口丁作为终末期肺气肿的常用术式,单肺移植结合对侧肺减容术可以更好的利用供肺,同时又解除了术后对侧自体肺的并发症;对年龄较轻及有双肺感染的终末期肺气肿患者,应首选双肺移植,双肺移植较单肺移植术后并发症更少.     

肺移植治疗特发性肺间质纤维化32例报告

目的 探讨肺移植治疗特发性肺间质纤维化(IPF)的手术适应证、手术方式及疗效.方法 76例肺移植中32例为肺移植治疗IPF.移植前,患者均经高分辨螺旋CT检查显示为典型的弥漫性蜂窝肺,经开胸或纤维支气管镜肺活组织病理检查确诊为IPF的有16例,动脉血气分析显示动脉血氧分压(PaO_2)≤50 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)的有28例,平均肺动脉压≥30 mm Hg的有15例.32例IPF患者中,28例接受单肺移植,其中常规体外循环下完成2例,体外膜肺氧合(ECMO)支持下完成14例;4例双肺移植均在ECMO支持下进行,取双侧前胸切口不横断胸骨,依次完成双侧单肺移植.术后对所有受者进行了随访,观察患者的预后情况.结果 所有受者均顺利完成手术.18例应用ECMO辅助的受者中,术后有17例成功撤除ECMO辅助,1例于术后2周因多器官功能衰竭而死亡.除上述死亡的1例外,术后早期还有4例死亡,1例术后发生支气管吻合口漏,经手术修补后发生吻合口裂开而死亡,1例死于移植肺活动性出血,2例死于移植肺功能丧失.术后1年内有12例发生急性排斥反应,发生率为37.5%,1例因重症排斥反应死亡,2例因严重感染死亡.受者术后3个月、1年及3年存活率分别为84.3%、75%和54.5%,中位存活时间为51个月,受者肺功能改善明显,生活质量显著提高.结论 肺移植是治疗IPF的有效方法,术后可明显延长受者存活时间,单肺移植可作为IPF的常用术式.对年龄较轻者应选择双肺移植.     

肺移植治疗终末期肺疾病的单中心十年经验总结

目的 探讨肺移植治疗终末期肺疾病的效果,并对单中心肺移植的经验进行总结.方法 回顾2003年1月至2012年12月间52例肺移植病例的临床资料,受者年龄为24～76岁,≥65岁者13例;受者原发病主要为肺气肿33例(63.5％)及特发性肺间质纤维化8例(15.4％).术后对所有受者的并发症发生率、死亡情况及存活率进行分析.结果 供肺缺血时间＞6 h者28例(53.8％),其中缺血超过10 h者20例(38.5％).术后出现吻合口狭窄3例(5.8％),住院期间发生细菌感染14例(26.9％),真菌感染13例(25.0％),巨细胞病毒性肺炎1例(1.9％).发生急性排斥反应20例(38.5％),经甲泼尼龙冲击治疗3d后均逆转;发生慢性排斥反应7例(13.5％),其中2例接受再次肺移植后效果良好,3例调整免疫抑制方案后缓解,2例死亡.术后1年内死亡9例(17.3％),术后1、3和5年的总体累积存活率分别为81.4％,54.5％和30.9％.结论 肺移植是治疗终末期肺疾病的有效方法,恰当的病例选择、良好的肺保护、正确的围手术期处理及系统的术后管理是肺移植成功的关键.     

亲属活体供肾动脉轻度狭窄对肾移植受者术后早期肾功能和并发症的影响

目的探讨亲属活体供肾动脉轻度狭窄对肾移植受者术后早期肾功能和并发症的影响。方法回顾性分析14例供肾动脉轻度狭窄的亲属活体肾移植与50例标准亲属活体肾移植供、受者的临床资料。比较两组供者术后血清肌酐(Scr)水平。比较两组受者术后1、3、6个月的Scr水平;比较两组受者移植肾存活率及移植物功能延迟恢复(DGF)、急性排斥反应、肺部感染的发生率。结果两组供者术后Scr水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(均为P0.05)。两组术后1、3、6个月Scr水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(均为P0.05)。两组受者移植肾存活率,DGF、急性排斥反应、肺部感染的发生率比较,差异亦均无统计学意义(均为P0.05)。结论亲属活体供肾动脉轻度狭窄对肾移植受者术后肾功能和并发症的影响不大,可纳入标准供体供肾范围。     

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in single lung transplant recipients--patients with emphysema versus patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation is a disease of small airways that is currently graded according to a decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) even in single lung transplant recipients in whom native diseased lung may influence lung physiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative changes in lung function and survival following the onset of BOS in patients with emphysema and patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) who have undergone single lung transplantation. We analyzed data from 31 single lung transplant recipients with emphysema and 25 with IPF who were at risk of BOS. There was no difference in the incidence of BOS between the 2 groups (10 patients with emphysema and 6 patients with IPF), but after the onset of BOS the patients with emphysema had a significantly greater median survival (18 months vs 8 months) despite a poorer mean FEV(1) (1.26 liter, 45% predicted vs 2.11 liter, 67% predicted) compared with the IPF group (p < 0.05) and this difference in lung function persisted at death (0.8 liter, 30% predicted vs 1.65 liter, 51% predicted) (p < 0.05). In summary the native lung physiology appears to influence lung function and therefore survival, and this may indicate that the classification of BOS should include disease-specific characteristics.     

Clinical features and outcomes of paramyxoviral infection in lung transplant recipients treated with ribavirin.

BACKGROUND: Paramyxoviral infections are reported in 6% to 21% of lung transplant recipients. Aerosolized ribavirin is used to treat paramyoxviral infections, but data on outcomes of this treatment in lung transplant patients are limited. METHODS: Lung recipients treated with aerosolized ribavirin from 1992 through 2000 for pulmonary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or parainfluenza virus (PIV) infection were assessed for the following variables: age; gender; underlying diagnosis; time from transplantation; duration of illness; clinical symptoms; and change from baseline FEV(1) (forced expiratory volume in 1 second). Outcomes included FEV(1) values at 30 and 90 days, need for intubation, development of acute rejection or obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) in the year after treatment; and 90-day and overall mortality. RESULTS: Fifteen patients received ribavirin for a median of 5 days (range 3 to 7) for 17 episodes of RSV (n = 12) or PIV (n = 5) infection. The clinical presentations of RSV and PIV infection were similar. Infection occurred a median of 520 days (range 7 to 1700) after transplantation. Three episodes required intubation; 2 episodes were fatal accounting for a 90-day mortality per episode of 12%. The FEV(1) at presentation declined by 25% (range 4% to 44%) from baseline. In 3 patients the FEV(1) did not return to baseline by 90 days or thereafter. All 3 patients had underlying pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) vs no IPF in 0 of 9 evaluable patients who recovered (p = 0.009). There was no correlation between response to ribavirin and subsequent development of OB. CONCLUSIONS: About 33% of lung transplant patients with lower respiratory tract paramyxoviral infections who were treated with inhaled ribavirin died or did not return to baseline FEV(1). This effect was acute and not associated with later complications, including OB. Underlying IPF may be a risk factor for failure to return to baseline. Larger, prospective, multicenter studies are required to confirm these findings.     

Airway complications after lung transplantation: treatment and long-term outcome

BACKGROUND: Airway complications are a significant cause of morbidity after lung transplantation. Effective treatment reduces the impact of these complications. METHODS: Data from 123 lung (99 single, 24 bilateral) transplants were reviewed. Potential risk factors for airway complications were analyzed. Stenoses were treated with expanding metal (Gianturco) stents. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 749 days. Thirty-five complications developed in 28 recipients (complication rate: 23.8%/anastomosis). Mean time to diagnosis was 47 days. Only Aspergillus infection and airway necrosis were significantly associated with development of complications (p < 0.00001 and p < 0.03, respectively). Stenosis was diagnosed an average of 42 days posttransplant. Average decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 39%. Eighteen patients (13 single and 5 bilateral) required stent insertion. Mean increase in FEV1 poststenting was 87%. Two stent patients died from infectious complications. Six patients required further intervention. Long-term survival and FEV1 did not differ from nonstented patients. CONCLUSIONS: Aspergillus and airway necrosis are associated with the development of airway complications. Expanding metal stents are an effective long-term treatment.     

Endobronchial metallic stent placement for airway complications after lung transplantation: Longitudinal results

BACKGROUND: In lung transplant recipients, bronchial stenosis (SB) and bronchomalacia (MB) result in obstructive airway disease and allograft dysfunction due to pulmonary infection. We hypothesized that endobronchial metallic stent placement for SB and MB would result in long-term improvement in respiratory function and rates of pulmonary infection. METHODS: We studied symptomatic lung transplant recipients with bronchoscopic evidence of proximal airway complications (SB or MB) and a synchronous decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of at least 10% in the 6-month period before intervention. Stent placement was the primary intervention for SB and all focal MB lesions and for recurrent or refractory SB lesions failing a single initial attempt at balloon dilation. FEV1 and rates of pulmonary infection were assessed in the 12-month interval before and after stent placement. Spirometric evaluation was performed at 3-month intervals and compared with spirometry at the time of stent placement. The rates of pulmonary infection, determined by the number of antibiotics prescribed, was determined before and after endobronchial correction. RESULTS: Thirty recipients underwent a total of 75 procedures (50 stent insertions and 25 balloon dilations). FEV1 improved significantly after stent placement compared with base line (1.29 +/- 0.43 L) as follows: 3 months, 1.45 +/- 0.50 L, p = 0.014; 6 months, 1.59 +/- 0.57 L, p = 0.002; 12 months 1.59 +/- 0.53 L, p = 0.006. The infection rate decreased from the 12-month period preceding stent insertion to the corresponding period after stent insertion (6.97/100 days +/- 6.33 versus 5.74/100 days +/- 7.76, p = 0.018). Recurrent SB occurred in 17.3%. No life-threatening complications occurred after stent placement and no deaths were attributed to stent malfunction or malposition. CONCLUSIONS: In lung transplant recipients with SB and MB, maintenance of airway patency by stent placement is safe and resulted in improvements in lung function and reduced pulmonary infection rates for up to 1 year after their insertion.     

The value of ventilation scintigraphy after single lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: A decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) as a diagnostic criterion for bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after single lung transplantation may be influenced significantly by the presence of the native lung. To quantify and to discriminate between the relative contribution of graft and native lung to the FEV(1), we retrospectively investigated the diagnostic value of combined FEV(1) measurements and ventilation scintigraphy in pulmonary dysfunction after single lung transplantation in 11 recipients with pulmonary vascular disease, 3 with obstructive lung disease, and 3 with restrictive lung disease. METHODS: We assessed function of the native lung and the graft, and subsequently calculated an adjusted grading of BOS by correcting routine FEV(1) measurements using linear interpolation of bi-annual lung ventilation scans. RESULTS: The contribution of the native lung to the total FEV(1) was slight (median, 9%) in recipients with obstructive disease compared with recipients with vascular (38%) or restrictive lung diseases (27%). Adjusted BOS grading was not useful in patients with obstructive disease. In the other patient groups, the onset of adjusted BOS Grade 1 and standard BOS Grade 1 was at a median of 220 days (range, 127-1146 days) and 836 days (184-3065 days), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ventilation scintigraphy is a useful adjunct in the (early) diagnosis of BOS in recipients of single lung transplants who have vascular and restrictive lung diseases.     

Twenty-year experience of lung transplantation at a single center: Influence of recipient diagnosis on long-term survival

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the long-term patient outcomes of lung transplantation in a single center. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2003, 521 lung transplants were performed in 501 patients. Major indications were cystic fibrosis (n = 124), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 88), alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (n = 63), pulmonary fibrosis (n = 97), primary pulmonary hypertension (n = 35), Eisenmenger syndrome (n = 21), and miscellaneous end-stage lung diseases (n = 93). RESULTS: The 5-, 10-, and 15-year survivals for all recipients were 55.1% (95% confidence interval: +/-5%), 35.3% (+/-6%), and 26.5% (+/-11%), respectively. The most common causes of death were sepsis and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Despite an increased postoperative mortality rate, patients with primary pulmonary hypertension achieved the best long-term survival (10-year survival: 59%). Recipients with cystic fibrosis without Burkholderia cepacia infection achieved significantly better long-term survival (10-year survival: 52%) than those with Burkholderia cepacia infection (10-year survival: 15%). The 10-year survival was also significantly better in recipients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (43%) than in recipients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (23%). Although the incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was similar between recipients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (39%) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (46%), recipients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency died of sepsis more frequently than recipients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (27% vs 6%, respectively; P =.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Although bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and sepsis still limit the durability of the benefit, lung transplantation returns many patients with end-stage lung disease to active and productive lives. Differences in the complications and long-term survival show the important contribution of the recipient diagnosis to the success of lung transplantation.     

Liberalization of donor criteria may expand the donor pool without adverse consequence in lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: Currently the most important limitation in lung transplantation is donor availability. Although liberalization of donor criteria may aid in expanding the donor pool, the long-term effects of the use of "marginal" or "extended" donors remains unexplored. METHODS: In this study, we included all patients who underwent lung transplantation from January 1996 to December 1999 at Loyola University Medical Center. We categorized patients as either receiving lungs from an "ideal" donor or an "extended" donor. Extended donors were defined as having any 1 of the following criteria: donor age > 55 years, tobacco history > 20 pack years, presence of infiltrate on chest x-ray, donor ventilator time > 5 days, or donor use of inhaled drugs (cocaine or marijuana). We then compared the 2 groups with regard to short-term (operating room [OR] complications, intensive care unit [ICU] complications) and long-term outcomes (1-year pulmonary function and survival). RESULTS: Sixty-one (54%) patients received lungs from ideal donors and 52 (46%) patients received lungs from extended donors as defined above. We observed no significant differences between the 2 groups in OR complications (cardiopulmonary bypass, bleeding complications, life-threatening arrhythmias) or ICU complications (pneumonia, airway dehiscence, reoperation within 30 days related to transplantation). In addition, the 2 groups had similar median intubation times (21 hours in the ideal donor group and 20 hours in the extended donor group; p = n.s.), hospital length of stay (14+/-12 days in the ideal donor group and 12+/-8 days in the extended donor group; p = n.s.), and hospital survival (80% and 88% in the ideal and extended donor groups, respectively). One-year follow-up revealed similar pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec [FEV(1)] = 2.4 liters and 2.4 liters in the recipients of bilateral ideal and extended donors, respectively, and FEV(1) = 1.9 liters and 1.5 liters in the recipients of single ideal and extended donors) and survival (72% and 79% in the ideal and extended donor groups, respectively; p = n.s.) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Liberalization of donor criteria does not affect outcome in the first year after lung transplantation. By liberalizing donor criteria, we can expand the donor pool while assessing other possible mechanisms to increase donor availability.     

Pulmonary function in chronic heart failure. Changes after heart transplantation.

To investigate the impact of chronic heart failure on pulmonary function in heart transplant recipients, pulmonary function was evaluated in 41 consecutive patients (mean age 43 years, range 15-57 years) before and 6 months after successful heart transplantation. The pulmonary function tests included measurements of forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1.s [FEV1], FEV1/FVC ratio, total lung capacity [TLC], and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide [TLCO] and KCO [TLCO per l alveolar volume]. Compared to pretransplant values, spirometry after transplantation revealed modest improvements in FVC (from 77 +/- 16 to 88 +/- 21% of predicted [%pred]; p < 0.001) and FEV1 (from 75 +/- 16 to 85 +/- 22%pred; p < 0.001), whereas the FEV1/FVC ratio was unchanged (81% +/- 11 and 80% +/- 10; p = NS). A slight but statistically significant increase in TLC (from 78 +/- 15 to 86 +/- 18%pred, p < 0.001) was also observed. Prior to transplantation the mean TLCO was 76 +/- 17%pred; 7 of the patients had a TLCO below 60%pred (mean 51% pred). In 33 of the 41 patients a reduction in TLCO was observed after transplantation; for all 41 patients the mean fall in TLCO was 14% of the predicted value (SD 12%pred) (p < 0.0001). Likewise, a significant reduction in KCO was noted (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis revealed that high pretransplant TLCO %pred (p = 0.02) and FVC %pred (p = 0.04) were associated with a less favorable outcome concerning posttransplant TLCO %pred. Although normalization of FEV1, FVC and TLC can be anticipated after correction of severe chronic left ventricular failure by heart transplantation, the pronounced concomitant decline in diffusion capacity observed in this study may be explained by underlying pulmonary disease caused by factors other than long-standing heart failure. Our findings support the notion that pulmonary function abnormalities attributable to chronic heart failure should not preclude consideration for heart transplantation.     

Does the donor-recipient ABO blood group compatibility status predict subsequent lung transplantation outcomes?

BACKGROUND: The study was conducted to compare lung transplantation outcomes between ABO-identical (AI) and ABO-compatible (AC) recipients. METHODS: Charts of lung allograft recipients transplanted between February, 1990 and October, 1995 were reviewed. Standard triple-drug immunosuppression and general antimicrobial prophylaxis were provided. Surveillance spirometry was administered every three months. Flexible bronchoscopy (FB) with transbronchial biopsies (TBBs) were undertaken for clinical indications. Time to event analysis on acute (AR) and chronic (CR) rejection and actuarial survival were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cumulative curves were compared with a log rank test. Comparisons of age, maximum forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in the single (SLT) and double (DLT) lung recipients, duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay were carried out using the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test. Gender, race, underlying diagnoses, cytomegalovirus (CMV) status and pulmonary reimplantation response (PRR) were compared by Chi-square or Fisher's exact test where appropriate. RESULTS: Of the 100 lung recipients (age = 42.5 +/- 13.4 years; M:F = 50:50), 64 were AI and 36 AC. Median follow-up was 22 (range = 0-78) months. Outcome did not differ significantly between the 2 groups in terms of intensive care unit and hospital stay, PRR incidence and grade, incidence and frequencies of AR, median time and grade of first AR, maximum FEV1 for SLT and DLT recipients, incidence of CR and survival at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: As the donor supply remains limited, this could considerably simplify the logistics of future transplantation.     

Acute and chronic onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS): are they different entities?

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), defined as an irreversible, staged decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), is an established marker of obliterative bronchiolitis. Potential causes of BOS include sub-clinical chronic rejection and/or exaggerated healing response following acute injury. BOS may thus result from two or more distinct processes, both acute and chronic. METHODS: A total of 5,916 measurements of FEV(1) from 204 lung transplant recipients surviving at least 6 months after transplantation were analyzed. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 13 years. By adjusting for the acute effects of rejection, pulmonary infection and measurement variation on FEV(1) trace, patients either had a linear decline characterized by a single acute drop in FEV(1) of >15% at BOS onset, or a chronic linear decline in FEV(1). The fraction having acute onset was estimated. Acute events occurring within the first 6 months were assessed as risk factors for acute onset BOS. RESULTS: Of the 204 patients, 8% died before BOS onset and 18% were BOS-free at analysis. For 18% of patients, BOS onset followed a chronic linear decline in FEV(1) of 3.7% per year, with a median time of BOS onset >99 months. For 56% of patients, BOS onset followed an acute drop in FEV(1) of median 33.8% (95% CI 19.1% to 39.7%), with median onset time of 52 months. During the first 6 months, acute rejection was significantly and independently associated with acute onset of BOS (relative risk = 1.15 per episode, 95% CI [1.03 to 1.29], p = 0.01), whereas pulmonary infection and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were not. Acute BOS onset followed a documented acute event in the previous 6 months in 38 of 114 (33%) of cases. CONCLUSIONS: BOS likely reflects more than one process. Compared with those who had a slow linear decline in lung function, acute BOS onset was associated with acute rejection in the first 6 months, was often triggered by an acute event and had poor prognosis, with obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) the main cause of death.