The presence or severity of pulmonary hypertension does not affect outcomes for single-lung transplantation

Pulmonary Hypertension in Interstitial Lung Disease: Management Options to Move Beyond Supportive Care

Purpose of Review

This review delineates current diagnostic and management strategies for pulmonary hypertension due to interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD).

Recent Findings

The INCREASE trial, a phase III multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrated both improved 6-min walk distance and decreased disease progression with inhaled treprostinil. This pivotal trial led to inhaled treprostinil becoming the first FDA approved medication for treatment of PH-ILD. The availability of this treatment has generated subsequent recommendations for the screening for PH in patients with ILD. As a result, it is becoming increasingly important for clinicians to gain awareness and familiarity with the evolving management options for PH-ILD.

Summary

The management of PH-ILD has its roots in goal-directed treatment of the underlying lung disease. However, recent medication advances and ongoing clinical studies are opening opportunities for more disease-specific treatment.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with COVID-19 related lung disease listed for lung transplantation: A UNOS registry analysis

COVID-19 related lung disease (CRLD) has emerged as an indication for lung transplantation (LT) in highly select patients. The prevalence and prognostic implication of coexisting pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with CRLD listed for LT is not known. Adult patients in the United Network for Organ Sharing database listed for LT for COVID-19 related acute respiratory distress syndrome or fibrosis through March 2022 were identified. The prevalence and impact of precapillary PH on pre- and posttransplantation survival was determined. Time-to-event analysis was used to compare outcomes between those with and without precapillary PH. We identified 245 patients listed for LT for CRLD who had right heart catheterization data available at the time of registry listing. Median age of the cohort was 54 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 46, 60), 56 (22.9%) were female, and the median lung allocation score was 81.3 (IQR: 53.3, 89.4). The prevalence of precapillary PH at the time of transplant listing was 27.9%. There was no significant difference in pretransplant mortality in patients with and without precapillary PH (sHR: 0.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.1-1.7, p = 0.261). A total of 187 patients ultimately underwent LT; of those, 60 (31.0%) were identified as having precapillary PH during the waitlist period. Posttransplantation survival was similar between patients with and without pretransplant precapillary PH (hazard ratio: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.2-3.7, p = 0.953). We observed a high rate of concomitant precapillary PH in patients listed for LT for CRLD. Though common, coexisting precapillary PH was not associated with a significant difference in either pre- or post-transplantation outcomes.

Advanced Circulatory Support and Lung Transplantation in Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive fatal disease. Although medical therapies have improved the outlook for these patients, there still exists a cohort of patients with PAH who are refractory to these therapies. Lung transplantation (LT), and in certain cases heart-lung transplantation (HLT), is a therapeutic option for patients with severe PAH who are receiving optimal therapy yet declining. ECMO may serve as a bridge to transplant or recovery in appropriate patients. Although, the mortality within the first 3 months after transplant is higher in PAH recipients than the other indications for LT, and the long-term survival after LT is excellent for this group of individuals. In this review, we discuss the indications for LT in PAH patients, when to refer and list patients for LT, the indications for double lung transplant (DLT) versus HLT for PAH patients, types of advanced circulatory support for severe PAH, and short and long-term outcomes in transplant recipients with PAH.

The prognostic value of peak arterial lactate levels within 72 h of lung transplantation in identifying patient outcome

Background

Lactic acidosis is often seen in lung transplantation (LTx). Postoperative lactate is frequently associated with poor outcome in postoperative and critically ill patients. Our aim was to evaluate the predictive value of postoperative peak lactate levels within 72 h of LTx for 30-day and late mortality.

Methods

We evaluated patients who underwent LTx from January 2015 to September 2017. All admitted patients were classified according to the peak lactate level (PL) within 72 h of surgery: PL <5 mmol/L (Group 1); PL =5–10 mmol/L (Group 2), and PL >10 mmol/L (Group 3). We performed logistic regression analysis and used Cox regression models to identify the peak lactate level as a predictive factor for 30-day and late mortality, respectively.

Results

Of 255 eligible patients, mean age 55.61±12.16, mean lactate 4.99±2.93 and 80% male, and 40% had hyperlactatemia (PL >5 mmol/L) after LTx. The 30-day mortality rate was 17.9%, 28.9% and 68.8% in the three groups, respectively (P<0.05). Multivariate regression analyses revealed postoperative PL as a notable predictor of 30-day mortality [odds ratio =2.62 (1.42–4.84), P=0.002] as well as for late mortality [hazard ratio =2.70 (1.13–6.42), P=0.025].

Conclusions

The postoperative peak lactate level within 72 h of surgery was an independent predictor for 30-day and late mortality in LTx patients.

Exacerbation of Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension by Flat Chest after Lung Transplantation

A 40-year-old woman with idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) and flat chest underwent left single lung transplantation (SLT). Although she had developed over-systemic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) at transplantation, it was alleviated. However, her PAP gradually increased again. Her transplanted lung was well-inflated, but progression of fibrosis in her right native lung appeared to have caused a mediastinal shift, and her flat chest caused obstruction of the outflow tract of the pulmonary vein. She died of heart failure and associated infection 1.5 years after transplantation. An autopsy confirmed irreversible pulmonary arterial and venous changes in the transplanted lung, suggestive of chronic pressure overload. The flat chest associated with IPPFE can affect pulmonary circulation after SLT.

Lung transplantation for pulmonary sarcoidosis

Although relatively few patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis develop advanced disease that progresses to respiratory insufficiency despite receiving best practice pharmacologic interventions, lung transplantation may be the only therapeutic option for such patients to both prolong survival and provide improved quality of life. Lung transplant can be successfully performed for patients with end-stage pulmonary sarcoidosis, and post-transplant survival is similar to that for other transplant indications such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, appropriate timing of referral, comprehensive assessment of potential candidates for lung transplant, placement of patients on the lung transplant waiting list when within the transplant window as appropriate, choosing the best procedure (bilateral versus single lung transplant), and optimal peri-operative and post-transplant management are key to successful lung transplant outcomes for patients with sarcoidosis.

Single Versus Bilateral Lung Transplantation for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in the Lung Allocation Score Era

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal disease. Lung transplantation is the only therapy associated with prolonged survival. The ideal transplant procedure for IPF is unclear. Outcomes after single transplantation (SLTx) versus bilateral lung transplantation (BLTx) in IPF patients after introduction of the Lung Allocation Score were examined.

METHODS

Records of patients undergoing lung transplantation for IPF at our institution between May 2005 and March 2017 were reviewed to examine the effect of transplant laterality. Primary outcomes were overall, rejection-free, and bronchiolitis obliterans (BOS)-free survival at 1 and 5 years post-transplant.

RESULTS

Lung transplantation was performed in 151 IPF patients post-Lung Allocation Score. Most recipients were male with average age 59 ± 8 years. SLTx was performed in 94 patients (62%). In the overall cohort, comparative survival between SLTx and BLTx was similar at 1 and 5 years before and after adjusting for age and pulmonary hypertension (PH). SLTx was associated with shorter ventilator time and intensive care unit stay and trended toward improved survival over BLTx in patients without PH.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of SLTx versus BLTx in IPF did not correspond to significantly different survival adjusting for age and PH. BLTx was associated with prolonged postoperative ventilation and length of stay compared with SLTx. Patients without PH, all older patients, and patients with PH and advanced disease should be considered for SLTx for IPF.

Pulmonary fibrosis, part II: state-of-the-art patient management

INTRODUCTION

While many pharmacologic therapies for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have been evaluated via randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) conducted over the past two decades, most therapies have been shown to be ineffective or even potentially harmful. However, a number of recently completed RCTs have shown significant efficacy for pirfenidone and nintedanib for the treatment of IPF. Areas covered: This manuscript reviews recent advances in the management of IPF and other forms of fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) with an emphasis on IPF. The material upon which this discussion is based was obtained from various published texts and manuscripts identified via literature searching (e.g. PubMed). Expert commentary: Anti-fibrotic drugs are now available for clinical use and perceived as standard-of-care therapies that have the potential to blunt disease progression for many patients with IPF. However, these agents do not necessarily stop disease progression or have a significant impact on mortality, and more effective pharmacologic therapies are needed for patients with IPF. Additionally, whether anti-fibrotic agents can be effective therapies for other forms of pulmonary fibrosis, which often have radiologic and histopathologic manifestations that mimic IPF, is being evaluated in a number of RCTs.

Noteworthy Literature Published in 2016 for Thoracic Organ Transplantation Anesthesiologists

This article is first in the series to review the published literature on perioperative issues in patients undergoing thoracic solid organ transplantations. We present recent literature from 2016 on preoperative considerations, organ preservation, intraoperative anesthesia management, surgical techniques, postoperative complications, and the impact of perioperative management on short- and long-term outcomes that are pertinent to thoracic transplantation anesthesiologists.