title: First experience with a paracorporeal artificial lung in humans.
abstract: Lung transplantation is the only treatment option for patients suffering form end-stage respiratory failure. To date, no mechanical device is available to support patients on the waiting list up to months. Here, we summarize our experience with our first two patients, who were supported with a paracorporeal artificial lung (PAL) placed in parallel to the pulmonary circulation with connection to the pulmonary artery and to the left atrium. A low resistance membrane oxygenator (iLA, Novalung, Hirrlingen, Germany) was attached in both patients. Our first patient suffering from a pulmonary veno-occlusive disease was supported for 18 days until he died due to severe sepsis. Our second patient with a primary pulmonary hypertension of unknown origin was supported 62 days followed by successful lung transplantation. In conclusion, the experience obtained with these first two patients under PAL encourages further studies and introduction of this promising concept into clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. dcamboni@arcor.de
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Camboni
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arlt
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilker
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001187:Artificial Organs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000601:surgery; D008168:Lung; D008297:Male; D010107:Oxygenators, Membrane; D011668:Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease / Q000601:surgery