title: The lung transplant patient in the ICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lung transplantation (LTx) has become established as a standard intervention for patients suffering from end-stage lung disease. Transplant recipients are, however, predisposed to numerous unique complications arising from the surgery, transplant immunology and the lifelong medication. Clinicians working in intensive care are increasingly likely to be exposed to these patients and it is therefore important to have a working knowledge of the common complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Common complications encountered following LTx include primary graft dysfunction (PGD), airway complications, acute rejection, chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and infection, all of which impact significantly on long-term survival. PGD arises in the first weeks following transplantation. Acute rejection, airway complications and TMA represent the main complications in the first posttransplantation year. CLAD usually occurs later, but continues to represent the main obstacle to long-term survival. Infection poses significant risk at all stages following transplantation and a full spectrum of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens has been implicated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review highlights the most important complications after LTx and gives an update on diagnostic algorithms and treatment challenges for patients following LTx.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. fuehner.thomas@mh-hannover.de
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Fuehner
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Greer
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Welte
authors: Jens
authors: J
authors: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055031:Primary Graft Dysfunction / Q000150:complications*; D057049:Thrombotic Microangiopathies / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors