Long-term functional results after bilateral lung transplantation. Bordeaux Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Group.
Between February 1988 and January 1992, 61 patients have undergone bilateral lung transplantations (42 heart-lung and 19 double-lung) in Bordeaux. The underlying diseases were primary or secondary hypertension (20), emphysema (22), or other diseases including cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, and sarcoidosis (19). Actuarial survival for double-lung and heart-lung transplant recipients was 66% and 72% at 1 year and 57% and 53% at 3 years, respectively. Forty-two patients were still alive 6 months after operation, and we studied their pulmonary function at the short and long term. All parameters except arterial carbon dioxide tension had improved dramatically at 6 months (p < 0.0001). Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of vital capacity were at 79% +/- 3%, 92% +/- 5%, and 105% +/- 8% of the predicted values, respectively. Arterial oxygen tension was 88 +/- 3 mm Hg. Nine months after operation, a slight decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of vital capacity appeared but values remained more than 75% predicted. This was related to the occurrence of obliterative bronchiolitis in 6 patients (14%). At 9 months, flow rates and oxygen tension of these 6 patients were highly different from those of patients free of obliterative bronchiolitis (p < 0.0002 for flow rates and p < 0.01 for oxygen tension). Only 1 patient required retransplantation. The others are living an almost normal life. Our results are discussed in view of the published reports on single-lung transplantation. Short-term results of bilateral lung transplantation are thus excellent and maintained on a long-term basis. Therefore, in our opinion, bilateral lung transplantation is the therapy of choice for pulmonary hypertension and emphysema.
Dromer
C
C
Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, Hôpital Xavier Arnozan, Pessac, France.
Velly
J F
JF
Jougon
J
J
Martigne
C
C
Baudet
E M
EM
Couraud
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000209:etiology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D015996:Survival Rate; D014797:Vital Capacity
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen