Technique of controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung in humans.
BACKGROUND
Reperfusion injury remains a significant and sometimes fatal problem in clinical lung transplantation. Controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung using white cell-filtered, nutrient-enriched blood has been shown recently to significantly ameliorate reperfusion damage in a porcine model. We modified this experimental technique and applied it to human lung transplantation.


METHODS
Approximately 1,500 mL of arterial blood was slowly collected in a cardiotomy reservoir during the lung implant, and mixed to make a 4:1 solution of blood:modified Buckberg perfusate. This solution was passed through a leukocyte filter and into the transplant pulmonary artery for 10 minutes, at a controlled rate (200 mL/min) and pressure (less than 20 mm Hg), immediately before removal of the vascular clamp.


RESULTS
Five patients underwent lung transplantation (1 bilateral, 4 single lung) using this technique. All patients were ventilated on a 40% fraction of inspired oxygen within a few hours and extubated on or before the first postoperative day.


CONCLUSIONS
Controlled reperfusion of the transplanted lung with white cell-filtered, nutrient-enriched blood has given excellent functional results in our small initial clinical series.
Lick
S D
SD
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0528, USA. slick@utmb.edu
Brown
P S
PS
Kurusz
M
M
Vertrees
R A
RA
McQuitty
C K
CK
Johnston
W E
WE
D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D015424:Reperfusion / Q000379:methods*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*