Lung Transplantation

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Indications & Contraindications - Who Gets New Lungs?

Indications:

  • End-stage lung diseases (COPD, IPF, CF, PAH)

    ⭐ COPD: most common indication.

  • Life expectancy < 18-24 months
  • Severe functional impairment (NYHA III-IV)
  • PFTs: FEV1 < 30% (COPD/CF); FVC < 60% or DLCO < 50% (IPF)

Chest X-ray: Pre- and post-lung transplant

Contraindications:

AbsoluteRelative
Malignancy (active/recent <2-5y)Age > 65 (SLT), > 60 (BLT)
Irreversible other major organ failureBMI < 16 or > 35
Active infection (HIV, uncontrolled Hep B/C)Mech. ventilation/ECMO (bridge)
Current smoking/substance abuse (6m)Prior extensive thoracic surgery/radiation
Severe psych illness/non-adherenceColonization with resistant organisms

Donor Selection & Allocation - Gifting Breath Anew

  • Ideal Donor Criteria:
    • Age < 55-65 yrs
    • ABO compatible
    • PaO2/FiO2 > 300 mmHg (on PEEP 5 cm H2O, FiO2 1.0)
    • Clear CXR; no aspiration/trauma
    • No active malignancy/systemic infection
    • Smoking < 20 pack-years
  • Extended Criteria Donors (ECD): Increasingly used to expand donor pool; criteria less stringent.
  • Lung Allocation Score (LAS):
    • Prioritizes candidates (≥ 12 yrs). Score 0-100 (↑score = ↑priority).
    • Balances waitlist urgency & post-transplant survival benefit.

⭐ Key LAS components: Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), PaO2, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), pulmonary artery pressure, O2 requirement, age, BMI, creatinine, diagnosis.

Lung Donor Quality and Recipient Survival

Surgical Aspects & Techniques - The Big Swap

  • Incisions:
    • Clamshell (bilateral anterolateral): DLT standard.
    • Posterolateral thoracotomy: For SLT.
    • Median sternotomy: Rare, specific cases.
  • Procedure Types:
    • SLT: IPF, emphysema (non-suppurative).
    • DLT: CF, bronchiectasis (suppurative), PAH.
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB):
    • Often for DLT / unstable patients.
    • SLT: Off-pump preferred if stable.
    • ECMO: Bridge to transplant / intraop support.
  • Anastomotic Technique:
    • Bronchial: Telescoping or end-to-end; membranous portion first, then cartilaginous.
    • Vascular: Pulmonary Artery (PA) typically end-to-end; Left Atrial (LA) cuff for pulmonary veins.

Sequence: Bronchus → Pulm. Artery → Pulm. Veins (LA Cuff). 📌 Breathe Air Via Lungs (Bronchus, Artery, Veins).

  • Size Matching: Vital; donor lung often reduced if oversized.

Lung transplant anastomosis techniques

Post-Transplant Care & Hurdles - Navigating New Normals

  • Immunosuppression (Lifelong):

    • Standard: Triple therapy - Calcineurin Inhibitor (CNI), Antimetabolite, Corticosteroids.
      • CNIs (Tacrolimus, Cyclosporine): Nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity. Tacrolimus target levels: 3-12 ng/mL (varies).
      • Antimetabolites (Mycophenolate Mofetil, Azathioprine): GI upset, myelosuppression.
      • Corticosteroids (Prednisone): Hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, infections.
    • Induction therapy (e.g., Basiliximab, ATG) may be used peri-operatively.
  • Monitoring:

    • Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs): Spirometry (FEV1, FVC) regularly.
    • Bronchoscopy with Transbronchial Biopsy (TBBx) & Bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL): Surveillance for rejection/infection.
    • Imaging: Chest X-ray, CT scans as indicated.
    • Therapeutic drug monitoring for CNIs.
  • Key Hurdles & Complications:

    • Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD): Acute lung injury within 72 hours post-transplant; graded 0-3.
    • Rejection:
      • Acute Cellular Rejection (ACR): T-cell mediated. Dx: Biopsy. Rx: Pulse steroids, optimize immunosuppression.
      • Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR): Donor-Specific Antibodies (DSA). Dx: Biopsy (C4d), DSA. Rx: IVIG, plasmapheresis, rituximab.
      • Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): Leading cause of late mortality.
        • Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS): Airflow obstruction (↓FEV1). Most common form.
        • Restrictive Allograft Syndrome (RAS): Restrictive defects, fibrosis.

⭐ BOS, the most common phenotype of CLAD, is defined by a persistent decline in FEV1 to <80% of the post-transplant baseline. - Infections: High risk due to immunosuppression. + Bacterial: Pneumonia common early. + Viral: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - prophylaxis/pre-emptive therapy (Valganciclovir). + Fungal: Aspergillus - prophylaxis (e.g., Voriconazole). - Other: Drug toxicities (renal, metabolic), malignancy (PTLD, skin cancer), cardiovascular disease.

Chest X-ray: Primary Graft Dysfunction vs. Lung Infection

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • COPD, IPF, Cystic Fibrosis are key indications; DLT for suppurative diseases.
  • Active malignancy & untreatable infections (e.g., B. cenocepacia) are absolute contraindications.
  • Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD) is a critical early complication from reperfusion injury.
  • CLAD, notably Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS), is the main cause of late graft failure.
  • Standard immunosuppression is a triple-drug regimen (CNI, antimetabolite, steroids).
  • CMV and Aspergillus are significant opportunistic infections post-transplant_._

Practice Questions: Lung Transplantation

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Which one of the following is not a wound closure technique?

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Flashcards: Lung Transplantation

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Which kidney is taken during donor transplantation? Why? _____

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Which kidney is taken during donor transplantation? Why? _____

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