title: Early outcome after lung transplantation from non-heart-beating donors is comparable to heart-beating donors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of non-heart-beating donors (NHBD) to overcome organ shortage is moving into the clinic. In 2007, 5 of 51 lung transplantations (LTx) in our center were performed with lungs from controlled NHBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our aim was to describe these 5 NHBD LTx recipients and compare early outcome (<or= 6 months) with a cohort of 10 heart-beating donor (HBD) LTx recipients matched for age, gender, underlying disease, and time of surgery. Clinical outcomes were assessed, including ischemic times, gas exchange, primary graft dysfunction, time to extubation, time of discharge from intensive care unit/hospital, and pulmonary function. Airway and systematic inflammation were evaluated by bronchoalveolar lavage, total and differential cell counts, and plasma C-reactive protein levels, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early outcome in the NHBD group was comparable to the HBD group at the clinical and inflammatory level. The NHBD group showed a trend for earlier extubation (p = 0.054), greater increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (p = 0.054), and a significantly lower number of infections (p = 0.01). The NHBD group also had lower numbers of total cells (p = 0.04) and macrophages (p = 0.03) in bronchoalveolar lavage on day 21.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Outcome after LTx in NHBD recipients is not inferior to HBD recipients during the first 6 months. Late results and effect on chronic rejection should be further awaited. Controlled NHBD may offer a valid source of lungs to overcome organ shortage in LTx.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pneumology, Kathoholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vleeschauwer
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Raemdonck
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vanaudenaerde
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vos
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meers
authors.forename: Shana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wauters
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Coosemans
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Decaluwe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Leyn
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nafteux
authors.forename: Lieven
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verleden