Heparin does not seem to improve the function of pulmonary grafts for lung transplantation.
BACKGROUND
It has been debated whether or not heparin infusion before or after non-heart-beating donors are declared dead improves the quality of pulmonary grafts. In clinical lung transplantation with heart-beating donors (HBDs) heparin is routinely infused prior to organ harvesting since it is believed to improve pulmonary grafts by minimizing thrombosis formation in the pulmonary grafts. Here, we raise the question of whether or not the use of heparin in HBDs improves the quality of the pulmonary grafts.


METHODS
Twelve landrace pigs were divided into two groups of six animals; heparin was given prior to lung harvesting in one group, while the other group did not receive any heparin. The lungs were evaluated using an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) method.


RESULTS
No significant difference in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2) was observed between the two groups at an inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) of 1.0 (mean 69.2 kPa, range 46.1-77.0 in the non-heparin group, and 61.6 kPa, range 47.9-71.4 in the heparin group, p = 0.44), neither in pulmonary vascular resistance: mean 543 ((dyne × s)/cm(5)) (range 280-615) in the non-heparin group and 533 ((dyne × s)/cm(5)) (320-762) in the heparin group (p = 0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Heparin did not seem to improve pulmonary graft function in our animal model using conventional HBDs.
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Lund University , Sweden.
Sandra
S
Lindstedt
Leif
L
Pierre
Joanna
J
Hlebowicz
Richard
R
Ingemansson
D000818:Animals; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019520:Living Donors; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D009926:Organ Preservation; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013552:Swine; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D006493:Heparin