Characteristics and outcomes of patients with lung transplantation requiring admission to the medical ICU.
BACKGROUND
There are few data on characteristics and outcomes among patients with lung transplantation (LT) requiring admission to the medical ICU (MICU) beyond the perioperative period.


METHODS
We interrogated the registry database of all admissions to the MICU at Cleveland Clinic (a 53-bed closed unit) to identify patients with history of LT done > 30 days ago (n = 101; mean age, 55.4 ± 12.6 years; 53 men, 48 women). We collected data regarding demographics, history of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, preadmission FEV1, clinical and laboratory variables at admission, MICU course, length of stay, hospital survival, and 6-month survival.


RESULTS
The most common indication for MICU admission was acute respiratory failure (n = 51, 50.5%). Infections were most frequently responsible for respiratory failure, whereas acute rejection (cellular or humoral) was less likely (16%). Nearly one-fourth of the patients required hemodialysis (24.1%), and more than one-half required invasive mechanical ventilation (53.5%). Despite excellent hospital survival (88 of 101), 6-month survival was modest (56.4%). APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) III score at admission and single LT were independent predictors of hospital survival but did not predict outcome at 6 months. Functional status at discharge was the only independent predictor of 6-month survival (adjusted OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.1-22.7; P = .035).


CONCLUSIONS
Acute rejection is an infrequent cause of decompensation among patients with LT requiring MICU admission. For patients admitted to the MICU, 6-month survival is modest. Functional status at the time of discharge is an independent predictor of survival at 6 months.
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH. Electronic address: amit.banga@gmail.com.
Amit
A
Banga
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Debasis
D
Sahoo
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Charles R
CR
Lane
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Atul C
AC
Mehta
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Olufemi
O
Akindipe
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Marie M
MM
Budev
Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Xiao-Feng
XF
Wang
Respiratory Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH.
Madhu
M
Sasidhar
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001989:Bronchiolitis Obliterans / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007902:Length of Stay; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000601:surgery*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome