A functional assessment of patients two years after lung transplantation in Poland.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the long-term results of lung transplantation (LT) in Poland two years after the procedure.


METHODS
The study included patients who underwent LT between December 2004 and December 2009 in the Silesian Center for Heart Diseases in Zabrze. Various lung functions (forced vital capacity - FVC; forced expiratory volume in 1 second - FEV1), the quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), the level of perceived dyspnea (Medical Research Council - MRC; basic dyspnea index - BDI), and the patient's mobility (the 6-minute walking test - 6MWT) were assessed before and approximately 24 months after LT. Among 35 patients who underwent LT, 20 patients were referred to our study (mean age: 46.6 ± 9.03 years).


RESULTS
After LT, a statistically significant increase was observed in the distance achieved in the 6MWT (323.8 vs. 505.8 m), FVC (1.64 vs. 2.88 L), and FEV1 (1.37 vs. 2.09 L). An improvement in perceived dyspnea in MRC and BDI questionnaires was observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after LT. The assessment of the quality of life, excluding perceived pain, showed the most significant improvement in the physical cumulative score (PCS; 25 vs. 45 points), especially in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung transplantation in Poland, in patients who live longer than 2 years after the procedure, significantly improves the mobility, lung function, perceived dyspnea, and the quality of life.
Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
Dariusz T
DT
Jastrzębski
Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
Anna
A
Gumola
Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland.
Jacek
J
Wojarski
Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland.
Sławomir
S
Żegleń
Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland.
Marek
M
Ochman
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
Damian
D
Czyżewski
Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
Dariusz
D
Ziora
Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantation, Medical University of Silesia, Silesian Center for Heart Diseases, Zabrze, Poland.
Marian
M
Zembala
Department of Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis, Medical University of Silesia, Zabrze, Poland.
Jerzy
J
Kozielski
dyspnea; lung function tests; lung transplantation