A review of the lung transplantation programme in Ireland 2005-2007.
OBJECTIVE
Lung transplantation is a recognised surgical option for patients with end stage respiratory disease. We present data relating to the initiation of the Irish lung transplant programme in 2005.


METHODS
Seventeen patients: 7 male and 10 female have undergone lung transplantation. The indications for lung transplantation included COPD (n=8), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n=5), bronchiolitis obliterans (n=2), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (n=1), and cystic fibrosis (n=1). Eleven single lungs transplants were completed, while six patients underwent double sequential lung transplantation. The immunosuppression regimen included basiliximab as induction therapy, with steroids, mycophenolate mofetil nd cyclosporine or tacrolimus.


RESULTS
The operative mortality was zero. One patient died at 10 months post double lung transplantation secondary to bronchiolitis obliterans. Primary graft dysfunction was observed in two patients who required ventilatory support for 3 and 5 days respectively. Acute cellular rejection was observed in four patients (grade A2 n=3, grade A3 n=2). The cumulative 1-year survival was 94.1%, which compares favourably to an international standard of 78%.


CONCLUSIONS
The initiation of a lung transplant programme in Ireland has been successfully undertaken and initially provided results comparable to established lung transplant programs.
National Centre for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Waldemar
W
Bartosik
Jim J
JJ
Egan
Alan
A
Soo
Kaspar F
KF
Remund
Lars
L
Nölke
James F
JF
McCarthy
Alfred E
AE
Wood
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007494:Ireland; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult