title: Donor lungs with pulmonary embolism evaluated with ex vivo lung perfusion.
abstract: Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) compromises oxygenation and is typically considered a contraindication to lung donation for transplantation. We report the use of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to evaluate and possibly improve a pair of donor lungs with PE and poor oxygen exchange to a condition that might have been suitable for subsequent transplantation. A pair of donor lungs was procured for research after being declined for clinical use and placed on the EVLP circuit for 7 hours. Functional monitoring of the lungs revealed an increase in the partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (P/F ratio) from 268 in situ to 458 after EVLP. While on the circuit, pulmonary vascular resistance decreased as dynamic compliance of the lungs increased, suggesting they might have been acceptable for transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Chase R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Nicolas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Brozzi
authors.forename: Nakul
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vakil
authors.forename: Alexis E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Shafii
authors.forename: Sudish C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Gosta B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Pettersson
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010477:Perfusion; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015424:Reperfusion; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen