Impact of lung transplant operation on bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Double lung transplantation is better than single lung transplantation for end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Lung transplantation is one of the most common treatment options for patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the choice between single and double lung transplantation for these patients remains a matter of debate. Therefore, we performed a systematic search of medical databases for studies on single lung transplantation, double lung transplantation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

METHODS

The rate ratio and hazard ratio of survival were analyzed. The meta-analysis included 15 case-control and retrospective registry studies.

RESULTS

The rate ratios of the 3-year survival (0.937 and P = 0.041) and 5-year survival (0.775 and P = 0.000) were lower for single lung transplantation than for double lung transplantation. However, the hazard ratio did not differ significantly between the two.

CONCLUSIONS

Double lung transplantation was found to provide better benefits than single lung transplantation in terms of the long-term survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The outcome of lung transplantation for end-stage pulmonary diseases with pulmonary hypertension: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Lung transplantation is a treatment for end-stage lung disease. The optimal transplant strategy for patients with end-stage lung disease complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH) is controversial. The aim of this study is to review this experience and analyze the outcomes of lung transplantation for PH.

METHODS

This retrospective study collected data on patients with PH undergoing lung transplantation between March 2016 and December 2019 at a single center in China. The perioperative features and short- and medium-term outcomes between single-lung transplantation (SLT) and double-lung transplantation (DLT) were compared. Kaplan-Meier methods were used to analyze overall survival across a variety of transplantation procedures, age, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), body mass index (BMI), and indications of transplantation.

RESULTS

A total of 63 patients with PH were finally included in the analysis. The mean age, mean BMI, and mPAP were 56.37 years, 19.56 kg/m², and 35.4 mmHg respectively. The overall 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival was 70%, 63%, and 60%, respectively. Five (7.94%) patients died within 30 days after surgery and nine patients (14.3%) died from infection during the followed-up period. There were no significant differences in the short- and medium-term survival outcomes of SLT and DLT, but postoperative pulmonary function was better in DLT. Patients older than 60 years of age had worse survival (P=0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The short- and medium-term survival outcomes between SLT and DLT are similar in selected patients with PH. DLT provides better pulmonary function. Patients older than 60 years are associated with worse survival.

Lung transplantation for emphysema

Lung transplantation (LT) is proved to be effective in patients with end-stage lung disease who are failing optimal therapy. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema) is the most common indication for adult lung transplantation. As most patients with emphysema (EMP) can survive long term, it could be difficult to decide which patient should be listed for LT. LT is a complex surgery. Therefore, it is extremely important to choose a recipient in whom expected survival is at less equal or comparable to the survival without surgery. This paper reviews patient selection, bridging strategies until lung transplantation, surgical approach and choice of the procedure, and functional outcome in emphysema recipients.

High-resolution computed tomography findings of pulmonary tuberculosis in lung transplant recipients

OBJECTIVE

Respiratory infections constitute a major cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis is high among such patients. On imaging, tuberculosis has various presentations. Greater understanding of those presentations could reduce the impact of the disease by facilitating early diagnosis. Therefore, we attempted to describe the HRCT patterns of pulmonary tuberculosis in lung transplant recipients.

METHODS

From two hospitals in southern Brazil, we collected the following data on lung transplant recipients who developed pulmonary tuberculosis: gender; age; symptoms; the lung disease that led to transplantation; HRCT pattern; distribution of findings; time from transplantation to pulmonary tuberculosis; and mortality rate. The HRCT findings were classified as miliary nodules; cavitation and centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud pattern; ground-glass attenuation with consolidation; mediastinal lymph node enlargement; or pleural effusion.

RESULTS

We evaluated 402 lung transplant recipients, 19 of whom developed pulmonary tuberculosis after transplantation. Among those 19 patients, the most common HRCT patterns were ground-glass attenuation with consolidation (in 42%); cavitation and centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud pattern (in 31.5%); and mediastinal lymph node enlargement (in 15.7%). Among the patients with cavitation and centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud pattern, the distribution was within the upper lobes in 66.6%. No pleural effusion was observed. Despite treatment, one-year mortality was 47.3%.

CONCLUSIONS

The predominant HRCT pattern was ground-glass attenuation with consolidation, followed by cavitation and centrilobular nodules with a tree-in-bud pattern. These findings are similar to those reported for immunocompetent patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and considerably different from those reported for AIDS patients with the same disease.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome-free survival after lung transplantation: An International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Transplant Registry analysis

BACKGROUND

Lung transplant (LTx) recipients have low long-term survival and a high incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). However, few long-term, multicenter, and precise estimates of BOS-free survival (a composite outcome of death or BOS) incidence exist.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study of primary LTx recipients (1994-2011) reported to the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Transplant Registry assessed outcomes through 2012. For the composite primary outcome of BOS-free survival, we used Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazards regression, censoring for loss to follow-up, end of study, and re-LTx. Although standard Thoracic Transplant Registry analyses censor at the last consecutive annual complete BOS status report, our analyses allowed for partially missing BOS data.

RESULTS

Due to BOS reporting standards, 99.1% of the cohort received LTx in North America. During 79,896 person-years of follow-up, single LTx (6,599 of 15,268 [43%]) and bilateral LTx (8,699 of 15,268 [57%]) recipients had a median BOS-free survival of 3.16 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.99-3.30 years) and 3.58 years (95% CI, 3.53-3.72 years), respectively. Almost 90% of the single and bilateral LTx recipients developed the composite outcome within 10 years of transplantation. Standard Registry analyses "overestimated" median BOS-free survival by 0.42 years and "underestimated" the median survival after BOS by about a half-year for both single and bilateral LTx (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Most LTx recipients die or develop BOS within 4 years, and very few remain alive and free from BOS at 10 years post-LTx. Less inclusive Thoracic Transplant Registry analytic methods tend to overestimate BOS-free survival. The Registry would benefit from improved international reporting of BOS and other chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) events.

Single- Versus Double-Lung Transplantation in Pulmonary Fibrosis: Impact of Age and Pulmonary Hypertension

BACKGROUND

Double-lung transplantation (DLT) has better long-term outcomes compared with single-lung transplantation (SLT) in pulmonary fibrosis. However, controversy persists about whether older patients or patients with high lung allocation scores would benefit from DLT. Moreover, the degree of pulmonary hypertension in which SLT should be avoided is unknown.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis using the United Network for Organ Sharing database was performed in all recipients of lung transplants for pulmonary fibrosis. Kaplan-Meier survival for SLT versus DLT was compared and stratified by age, allocation score, and mean pulmonary artery pressure. Cox regression and propensity-matching analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Between 1987 and 2015; 9,191 of 29,779 lung transplants were performed in pulmonary fibrosis. Ten-year survival rates were 55% for DLT and 32% for SLT (p < 0.001). When stratified by age, DLT recipients had improved survival at all age cutoffs, except age ≥70 years. In addition, DLT recipients had improved survival across all lung allocation scores (<45, ≥45, ≥60, ≥75) and all pulmonary artery pressure categories (<25, ≥25, ≥30, ≥40 mm Hg). Among DLT recipients, pulmonary artery pressure and allocation score did not affect survival. Among SLT recipients, a pressure ≥25 mm Hg did not influence survival. Conversely, patients with a pressure ≥30 mm Hg and an allocation score ≥45 had decreased survival. On Cox regression and on propensity matching, DLT had improved survival compared with SLT.

CONCLUSIONS

In pulmonary fibrosis, DLT has improved survival compared with SLT and should be considered the procedure of choice in patients younger than 70 years of age. SLT in patients with mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥30 mm Hg and an allocation score ≥45 should be discouraged.

A single-center experience of 1500 lung transplant patients

OBJECTIVE

Over the past 30 years, lung transplantation has emerged as the definitive treatment for end-stage lung disease. In 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) was introduced to allocate organs according to disease severity. The number of transplants performed annually in the United States continues to increase as centers have become more comfortable expanding donor and recipient criteria and have become more facile with the perioperative and long-term management of these patients. We report a single-center experience with lung transplants, looking at patients before and after the introduction of LAS.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 1500 adult lung transplants at a single center performed between 1988 and 2016. Patients were separated into 2 groups, before and after the introduction of LAS: group 1 (April 1988 to April 2005; 792 patients) and group 2 (May 2005 to September 2016; 708 patients).

RESULTS

Differences in demographic data were noted over these periods, reflecting changes in allocation of organs. Group 1 patient average age was 48 ± 13 years, and 404 subjects (51%) were male. Disease processes included emphysema (52%; 412), cystic fibrosis (18.2%; 144), pulmonary fibrosis (16.1%; 128) and pulmonary vascular disease (7.2%; 57). Double lung transplant (77.7%; 615) was performed more frequently than single lung transplant (22.3%; 177). Group 2 average age was 50 ± 14 years, and 430 subjects (59%) were male. Disease processes included pulmonary fibrosis (46%; 335), emphysema (25.8%; 188), cystic fibrosis (17.7%; 127) and pulmonary vascular disease (1.6%; 11). Double lung transplant (96.2%; 681) was performed more frequently than single lung transplant (3.8%; 27). Overall incidence of grade 3 primary graft dysfunction (PGD) in group 1 was significantly lower at 22.1% (175) than in group 2 at 31.6% (230) (P < .001). Nonetheless, overall hospital mortality was not statistically different between the 2 groups (4.4% vs 3.5%; P < .4). Most notably, survival at 1 year was statistically different at 646 (81.6%) for group 1 and 665 (91.4%) for group 2 (P < .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Patient demographics over the study period have changed with an increased number of fibrotic patients transplanted. In addition, more aggressive strategies with donor/recipient selection appear to have resulted in a higher incidence of primary graft dysfunction. This does not, however, appear to affect patient survival on index hospitalization or at 1 year. In fact, we have observed a significant improvement in survival at 1 year in the more recent era. This observation suggests that continued expansion of possible donors and recipients, coupled with a more sophisticated understanding of primary graft dysfunction and long-term chronic rejection, can lead to increased transplant volume and prolonged survival.

Lung Transplant in Patients with Scleroderma Compared with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Short- and Long-Term Outcomes

RATIONALE

Patients with advanced lung disease due to systemic sclerosis have long been considered suboptimal and often unacceptable candidates for lung transplant.

OBJECTIVES

To examine post-lung transplant survival of patients with systemic sclerosis compared with patients with pulmonary fibrosis and to identify risk factors for 1-year mortality.

METHODS

In a retrospective cohort study, we compared post-lung transplant outcomes of 72 patients with scleroderma with those of 311 patients with pulmonary fibrosis between June 2005 and September 2013 at our institution. Actuarial survival estimates were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves. In Cox regression models, we determined risk factors for post-transplant mortality, controlling for whether patients had scleroderma or pulmonary fibrosis.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Post-transplant survival did not differ significantly between scleroderma and pulmonary fibrosis at year 1 (81% scleroderma vs. 79% pulmonary fibrosis; P = 0.743), at year 5 conditional on 1-year survival (66% vs. 58%; P = 0.249), or overall (P = 0.385). In multivariate analysis, body mass index greater than or equal to 35 kg/m(2) predicted poor 1-year survival in pulmonary fibrosis (hazard ratio, 2.76; P = 0.003). Acute cellular rejection-free survival did not differ significantly between the scleroderma and pulmonary fibrosis cohorts. Patients with scleroderma had significantly better bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome stage 1 or higher-free survival than did patients with pulmonary fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings that 1- and 5-year survival rates of patients with scleroderma were similar to those of patients with pulmonary fibrosis indicate that lung transplant is a reasonable treatment option in selected patients with scleroderma.

Quality of Life and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in Patients after Lung Transplantation

Background

Lung transplantation has become an established and effective treatment for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease.

Objective

To investigate health-related quality of life in correlation with occurrence and degree of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after transplantation.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study design, 119 consecutive lung transplant recipients (63.9% bilateral and 36.1% single lung transplants) responded voluntarily to a set of standardized questionnaires (12-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, Coping With Everyday Life, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Zerssen list of complaints) that covered health-related quality of life and psychological well being. Also, we performed pulmonary function studies to clinically grade bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in all patients.

Results

In this cohort, 41.2% of patients developed bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome at a mean interval of 5.6 years after lung transplantation. Actuarial freedom from bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome was 90.1%±2.3% at 1 year, 79.9%±3.7% at 3 years, and 59.5%±4.8% at 5 years after lung transplantation. Recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome reported significantly lower well being and quality of life than those without bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, who scored similar to healthy volunteers. In a subanalysis, body functioning ( P<.001) and related areas of coping ( P<.001) were mostly affected by bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome.

Conclusions

Quality of life was negatively affected by the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. However, even patients who develop bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome reported a temporary benefit from lung transplantation. In addition to optimal medical care and efforts in preventing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, psychological support of lung recipients seems to be essential, especially when bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome occurs.

Lung transplantation at Duke

Lung transplantation represents the gold-standard therapy for patients with end-stage lung disease. Utilization of this therapy continues to rise. The Lung Transplant Program at Duke University Medical Center was established in 1992, and since that time has grown to one of the highest volume centers in the world. The program to date has performed over 1,600 lung transplants. This report represents an up-to-date review of the practice and management strategies employed for safe and effective lung transplantation at our center. Specific attention is paid to the evaluation of candidacy for lung transplantation, donor selection, surgical approach, and postoperative management. These evidence-based strategies form the foundation of the clinical transplantation program at Duke.

A global perspective of lung transplantation: Part 1 - Recipient selection and choice of procedure

Lung transplantation has grown considerably in recent years and its availability has spread to an expanding number of countries worldwide. Importantly, survival has also steadily improved, making this an increasingly viable procedure for patients with end-stage lung disease and limited life expectancy. In this first of a series of articles, recipient selection and type of transplant operation are reviewed. Pulmonary fibrotic disorders are now the most indication in the U.S., followed by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis. Transplant centers have liberalized criteria to include older and more critically ill candidates. A careful, systematic, multi-disciplinary selection process is critical in identifying potential barriers that may increase risk and optimize long-term outcomes.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Delayed-onset Cytomegalovirus Disease in a Large Retrospective Cohort of Lung Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) replication and disease commonly occur in lung transplant recipients after stopping anti-CMV prophylaxis. The epidemiology of CMV disease is not well studied, given the difficulties in assembling representative study populations with prolonged follow-up. We hypothesized that delayed-onset CMV disease (>100 days after transplantation) occurs more commonly than early-onset CMV disease in lung transplant recipients, and is associated with an increased risk of death.

METHODS

We assembled a large cohort of lung transplant recipients using 2004 to 2010 International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification billing data from 3 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality State Inpatient Databases, and identified demographics, comorbidities, CMV disease coded during hospital readmission and inpatient death. We used Cox proportional hazard multivariate analyses to assess for an independent association between delayed-onset CMV disease and death.

RESULTS

In the cohort of 1528 lung transplant recipients from 12 transplant centers, delayed-onset CMV disease occurred in 13.7% (n = 210) and early-onset CMV disease occurred in 3.3% (n = 51). Delayed-onset CMV pneumonitis was associated with inpatient death longer than 100 days after transplantation (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.1-2.5), after adjusting for transplant failure/rejection (aHR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-4.1), bacterial pneumonia (aHR, 2.8; 95% CI, 2.0-3.9), viral pneumonia (aHR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1), fungal pneumonia (aHR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.3), single lung transplant (aHR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.0-1.7), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (aHR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-1.8).

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed-onset CMV disease occurred more commonly than early-onset CMV disease among lung transplant recipients. These results suggest that delayed-onset CMV pneumonitis was independently associated with an increased risk of death.

Lung transplantation for emphysema: impact of age on short- and long-term survival

OBJECTIVES

Overall, emphysema (EMP) is the most common indication for lung transplantation. The majority of patients present with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and less frequently with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (A1ATD). We analysed the results of lung transplants performed for EMP in order to identify the impact of age on short- and long-term outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was undertaken of the 108 consecutive lung transplants for EMP performed at our institution from November 1992 to August 2013 (77 COPD, 31 A1ATD). Retransplantations were excluded.

RESULTS

The median age was 56 years (range 31-68). Thirty-day mortality rate was 3.7%. One- and 5-year survival rates in COPD and A1ATD recipients were comparable (P = 0.8). The 1- and 5-year survival rates for recipients aged <60 years old were significantly better than the age group of ≥60 years (91 and 79 vs 84 and 54%, P = 0.05). Since 2007, the 1- and 5-year survival for these two age groups were 96 and 92 vs 86 and 44%, respectively, P = 0.04, log-rank test). For the following parameters, we were not able to find any difference to affect survival rates: use of intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, waiting list time, sex, graft size reduction, body mass index and diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, age at transplantation (≥60 years old) (HR 2.854; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.338-6.08, P = 0.008) and unilateral lung transplantation (HR 15.2; 95% CI 3.2-71.9, P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

COPD and A1ATD recipients have similar overall long-term survival. Recipients aged ≥60 years and unilateral lung transplants were risk factors for mortality.

Imaging in lung transplants: Checklist for the radiologist

Post lung transplant complications can have overlapping clinical and imaging features, and hence, the time point at which they occur is a key distinguisher. Complications of lung transplantation may occur along a continuum in the immediate or longer postoperative period, including surgical and mechanical problems due to size mismatch and vascular as well as airway anastomotic complication, injuries from ischemia and reperfusion, acute and chronic rejection, pulmonary infections, and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder. Life expectancy after lung transplantation has been limited primarily by chronic rejection and infection. Multiple detector computed tomography (MDCT) is critical for evaluation and early diagnosis of complications to enable selection of effective therapy and decrease morbidity and mortality among lung transplant recipients.

The societal impact of single versus bilateral lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

RATIONALE

Bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) improves survival compared with single lung transplantation (SLT) for some individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it is unclear which strategy optimally uses this scarce societal resource.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effect of SLT versus BLT strategies for COPD on waitlist outcomes among the broader population of patients listed for lung transplantation.

METHODS

We developed a Markov model to simulate the transplant waitlist using transplant registry data to define waitlist size, donor frequency, the risk of death awaiting transplant, and disease- and procedure-specific post-transplant survival. We then applied this model to 1,000 simulated patients and compared the number of patients under each strategy who received a transplant, the number who died before transplantation, and total post-transplant survival.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Under baseline assumptions, the SLT strategy resulted in more patients transplanted (809 vs. 758) and fewer waitlist deaths (157 vs. 199). The strategies produced similar total post-transplant survival (SLT = 4,586 yr vs. BLT = 4,577 yr). In sensitivity analyses, SLT always maximized the number of patients transplanted. The strategy that maximized post-transplant survival depended on the relative survival benefit of BLT versus SLT among patients with COPD, donor interval, and waitlist size.

CONCLUSIONS

In most circumstances, a policy of SLT for COPD improves access to organs for other potential recipients without significant reductions in total post-transplant survival. However, there may be substantial geographic variations in the effect of such a policy on the balance between these outcomes.

A review of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome and therapeutic strategies

Lung transplantation is an important treatment option for patients with advanced lung disease. Survival rates for lung transplant recipients have improved; however, the major obstacle limiting better survival is bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). In the last decade, survival after lung retransplantation has improved for transplant recipients with BOS. This manuscript reviews BOS along with the current therapeutic strategies, including recent outcomes for lung retransplantation.

Single-lung transplantation: does side matter?

OBJECTIVE

Single-lung transplantation (SLTx) is a valid treatment option for patients with non-suppurative end-stage pulmonary disease. This strategy helps to overcome current organ shortage. Side is usually chosen based on pre-transplant quantitative perfusion scan, unless specific recipient considerations or contralateral lung offer dictates opposite side. It remains largely unknown whether outcome differs between left (L) versus right (R) SLTx.

METHODS

Between July 1991 and July 2009, 142 first SLTx (M/F=87/55; age=59 (29-69) years) were performed from 142 deceased donors (M/F=81/61; age=40 (14-66) years) with a median follow-up of 32 (0-202) months. Indications for SLTx were emphysema (55.6%), pulmonary fibrosis (36.6%), primary pulmonary hypertension (0.7%), and others (7.0%). Recipients of L-SLTx (n=72) and R-SLTx (n=70) were compared for donor and recipient characteristics and for early and late outcome.

RESULTS

Donors of L-SLTx were younger (37 (14-65) vs 43 (16-66) years; p=0.033). R-SLTx recipients had more often emphysema (67.1% vs 44.4%; p=0.046) and replacement of native lung with ≥ 50% perfusion (47.1% vs 23.6%; p=0.003). The need for bypass, time to extubation, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and 30-day mortality did not differ between groups. Overall survival at 1, 3, and 5 years was 78.4%, 60.5%, and 49.4%, respectively, with a median survival of 60 months, with no significant differences between sides. Forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV₁) improved (p<0.01) in both groups to comparable values up to 36 months. Complications overall (44.4% vs 50.0%) or in allograft (25.0% vs 24.3.0%) as well as time to bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) (35 months) and 5-year freedom from BOS (68.9% vs 75.0%) were comparable after L-SLTx versus R-SLTx, respectively. There were no differences in all causes of death (p=0.766). On multivariate analysis, BOS was a strong negative predictor for survival (hazard ratio (HR) 6.78; p<0.001), whereas side and mismatch for perfusion were not.

CONCLUSION

The preferred side for SLTx differed between fibrotic versus emphysema recipients. Transplant side does not influence recipient survival, freedom from BOS, complications, or pulmonary function after SLTx. Besides surgical considerations in the recipient, offer of a donor lung opposite to the preferred side should not be a reason to postpone the transplantation until a better-matched donor is found.

Lung transplantation in advanced COPD: is it worth it?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition of progressive airflow obstruction occurring primarily as a result of tobacco use that accounts for substantial worldwide morbidity and mortality. Medical therapy, with the exception of oxygen and smoking cessation, does not appreciably alter the natural progression of the disease. In contrast, when performed in carefully selected candidates, lung transplantation can provide substantial benefits in physiology, function, quality of life, and survival. Strict selection criteria limit transplant to highly compliant candidates with advanced disease but preserved functional status who are capable of successfully undergoing the operation. Although either single or bilateral lung transplant may be offered in COPD, recent evidence suggests that bilateral transplant is the preferred operation due to superior long-term outcomes. Regardless of the type of transplant operation, however, all lung transplant recipients are susceptible to numerous complications, including posttransplant infection and rejection. Despite these and other potential complications, advances in medical and surgical management now make lung transplantation a worthwhile therapeutic option in appropriately selected patients. In fact, lung transplant represents the only intervention that can substantially improve long-term outcomes in COPD patients with very advanced disease. Further work to refine recipient selection, improve lung allocation algorithms, and develop better treatments of chronic allograft dysfunction will lead to an even greater benefit to lung transplantation in this ill patient population.

The number of lung transplants can be safely doubled using extended criteria donors; a single-center review

Relaxing the standard lung donor criteria may significantly increase the reported 15% organ yield but post-transplant recipient outcome should be carefully monitored. Charts from all consecutive deceased organ donors within our hospital network were reviewed over a 2-year period. Reasons for lung refusals and number of lungs transplanted were analysed. Hospital outcome including early recipient survival was compared between standard- and extended criteria donors. Out of 283 referrals, 164 (58%) qualified as donor of any organ. The majority (65.9%) of these effective donors were declined for lung donation because of chest X-ray abnormalities (20%), age >70 years (13%), poor oxygenation (10%), or aspiration (9%). Out of 56 (34.1%) accepted lung donors, 50 transplants were performed at our center, 23 from standard criteria donors versus 27 from extended criteria donors. There were no significant differences in hospital outcome and in early survival between lung recipients from both donor groups. Lung acceptance rate (34.1%) in our donor network is 10-20% higher than reported figures. The number of lung transplants in our center doubled by accepting extended criteria donors. This policy did not negatively influence our results after lung transplantation.

Computed tomography findings of postoperative complications in lung transplantation

Due to the increasing number and improved survival of lung transplant recipients, radiologists should be aware of the imaging features of the postoperative complications that can occur in such patients. The early treatment of complications is important for the long-term survival of lung transplant recipients. Frequently, HRCT plays a central role in the investigation of such complications. Early recognition of the signs of complications allows treatment to be initiated earlier, which improves survival. The aim of this pictorial review was to demonstrate the CT scan appearance of pulmonary complications such as reperfusion edema, acute rejection, infection, pulmonary thromboembolism, chronic rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, bronchial dehiscence and bronchial stenosis.

Retransplantation after single lung transplantation

OBJECTIVE

Our lung transplant program started in June 1989 with primary grafts including 21 heart-lung, 11 single lung, and 5 bilateral sequential single lung transplantation. Three patients required retransplantation for single lung and 2 patients for heart-lung grafts. The primary cause of death after lung transplantation is chronic graft dysfunction--bronchiolitis obliteran--though other causes, namely acute graft failure, have been mentioned. Retransplantation is considered to be the only treatment option. In experienced centers, the 1- and 5-year survivals are not as good as for other organ transplantations and for retransplantations the outcome is even worse. Our objective herein was to describe factors to be taken into account for retransplantation in our program, including the timing and indication for retransplantation and the presence of comorbidities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In our experience of 11 single lung transplantations, 3 (27.3%) were retransplantations. The 3 patients were 3, 5, and 2 years after primary transplantation. The indications were overexpansion of the remaining lung compressing the new lung in one and bronchiolitis obliterans in the others.

RESULTS

One patient with emphysema died in hospital after retransplantation because of acute myocardial infarction. One patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) disease died of lung complication after sudden cardiac arrest at 1.5 years after retransplantation. One patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is still alive at 5 years after retransplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchiolitis obliterans was a common reason for retransplantation among our patients as well as in other reports. Bronchiolitis exists with superimposed infection for years if it is the mild form. However, the clinical setting is progressively worse if it could not be controlled leading to retransplantation. At this stage, progressive deterioration of lung function must be considered because of inadequate therapy for infection. Finally, when there is infection usually both lungs are involved. The decision whether to replace the transplanted lung or the remaining lung is a concern, especially when the donor availability is scarce. In conclusion, lung retransplantation is the only treatment option for severe graft dysfunction, if there is no other therapy that can prolong life. Though bronchiolitis obliterans often is the indication for retransplantation, bronchiolitis itself is the signal of retransplantation.

Update in Surgical Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Bullectomy for giant bullae, lung volume reduction surgery, and lung transplantation are three surgical therapies that may benefit highly selected patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this article, each procedure is reviewed, with an emphasis on guidelines for patient selection and clinical outcomes for the practicing pulmonologist. Recent results from the National Emphysema Treatment Trial, updated International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Registry data, and revised guidelines for patient selection for lung transplantation are discussed.

Postoperative complications of lung transplantation: radiologic findings along a time continuum

In the past decade, lung transplantation has become established as an accepted therapy for end-stage pulmonary disease. Complications of lung transplantation that may occur in the immediate or longer postoperative term include mechanical problems due to a size mismatch between the donor lung and the recipient thoracic cage; malposition of monitoring tubes and lines; injuries from ischemia and reperfusion; acute pleural events; hyperacute, acute, and chronic rejection; pulmonary infections; bronchial anastomotic complications; pulmonary thromboembolism; upper-lobe fibrosis; primary disease recurrence; posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder; and native lung complications such as hyperinflation, malignancy, and infection. Radiologic imaging--particularly chest radiography, computed tomography (CT), and high-resolution CT--is critical for the early detection, evaluation, and diagnosis of complications after lung transplantation. To enable the selection of an effective and relevant course of therapy and, ultimately, to decrease morbidity and mortality among lung transplant recipients, radiologists at all levels of experience must be able to recognize and understand the imaging manifestations of posttransplantation complications.

Long-term Survival After Lung Transplantation Depends on Development and Severity of Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

BACKGROUND

The objectives of this study were to describe the natural history of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) in a large consecutive series of patients from a national center in accordance with the most recent grading criteria, and to examine the prognosis with respect to onset and severity of BOS.

METHODS

All patients receiving a cadaveric lung transplant between 1992 and 2004 were included in the study (n = 389). Exclusion criteria were patients not surviving at least 3 months after transplantation (n = 39) and lack of available lung function measurements (n = 4).

RESULTS

The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year actuarial survival rates for the entire series were 81%, 67%, 60% and 36%, respectively. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year actuarial freedom from BOS Grade > or = 1 was 81%, 53%, 38% and 15%, respectively. A Cox regression model with BOS grade as a time-dependent covariate was performed in a sub-group of patients surviving at least 3 years (n = 237). Both progression from BOS Grade 1 to 2 and from BOS Grade 2 to 3 were associated with a significant increase in mortality: hazard ratio (HR) = 3.1 (confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 7.9) and HR = 2.9 (CI 1.6 to 5.3), respectively. The addition of a non-time-dependent covariate to signify early (within 18 months of transplantation) or late (after 18 months) development of BOS was not significant (p = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The development and progression of chronic allograft rejection after lung transplantation (BOS Grades 2 and 3) is associated with a 3-fold increase in the risk of death at each stage, irrespective of whether BOS developed early or late.

Course of FEV(1) after onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in lung transplant recipients

RATIONALE

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), defined by loss of lung function, develops in the majority of lung transplant recipients. However, there is a paucity of information on the subsequent course of lung function in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the course of FEV(1) over time after development of BOS and to determine the predictors that influence the rate of functional decline of FEV(1).

METHODS

FEV(1)% predicted (FEV(1)%pred) trajectories were studied in 111 lung transplant recipients with BOS by multivariate, linear, mixed-effects statistical models.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

FEV(1)%pred varied over time after BOS onset, with the steepest decline typically seen in the first 6 months (12% decline; p < 0.0001). Bilateral lung transplant recipients had significantly higher FEV(1)%pred at BOS diagnosis (71 vs. 47%; p < 0.0001) and at 24 months after BOS onset (58 vs. 41%; p = 0.0001). Female gender and pretransplant diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were associated with a steeper decline in FEV(1)%pred in the first 6 months after BOS diagnosis (p = 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). A fall in FEV(1) greater than 20% in the 6 months preceding BOS (termed "rapid onset") was associated with shorter time to BOS onset (p = 0.01), lower FEV(1)%pred at BOS onset (p < 0.0001), steeper decline in the first 6 months (p = 0.03), and lower FEV(1)%pred at 2 years after onset (p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Rapid onset of BOS, female gender, pretransplant diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and single-lung transplantation are associated with worse pulmonary function after BOS onset.