[Experience in the use of bronchofibroscopy in the treatment for acute lung injury after liver transplantation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate retrospectively the clinical therapeutic effects of the application of bronchofibroscopy(BFS) in the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) after liver transplantation.


METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with ALI caused by various kinds of reasons after liver transplantation were divided into two groups depending on whether the BFS was undertaken (group A, n=36) or not (group B, n=22), and the clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated by comparing the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay and mechanical ventilation, mortality rate of ALI, morbidity and mortality rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and changes in arterial blood gas analysis before and after BFS treatment.


RESULTS
The length of ICU stay [(11+/-4) days vs. (16+/-4) days] and mechanical ventilation [(9+/-5) days vs. (14+/-5) days, both P<0.01] in group A were shorter, and mortality rate of ALI (11.1% vs. 36.4%), morbidity rate (27.8% vs. 54.5%, P<0.05 and P<0.01) and mortality rate of ARDS [40.0% (4/10) vs. 66.7% (8/12)] were lower in group A compared with group B (P>0.05). Arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO(2)), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO(2)), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)), and oxygenation index (PaO(2)/FiO(2)) after treatment were much better than those before BFS in group A and the differences were significant (all P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
BFS is a kind of safe and effective treatment measure for ALI after liver transplantation and is worthwhile to recommend.
Chen
Wan-Ping
WP
Intensive Care Unit, Institute of Organ Transplantation of The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, Hunan, China.
Ye
Qi-Fa
QF
Li
Ke
K
Wan
Qi-Quan
QQ
Ma
Ying
Y
D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies