Human heart, lung and heart-lung transplantation.
Compared to the other organ transplantations, lung and heart-lung transplantations have the following peculiarities: (1) bacterial colonization of the bronchi or lung parenchyma is almost constant because of the contact of donor's and recipient's lungs to the air through the intubation tube; (2) the lung is a particularly fragile organ and sensitive to the hemodynamic modifications in the donor following brain death; (3) the lung is the only organ transplanted without systemic revascularization, which increases the risks of bronchial ischemia, bronchomalacia, and mucociliary dysfunction; and (4) the lung has a large amount of lymphoid tissue, rendering it particularly immunogenic.
Schröder
Carsten
C
Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Heidehaus Hospital, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Macchiarini
Paolo
P
D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016041:Heart-Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods