Related Experiment Videos
Living donor lung transplantation.
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Southern California School of Medicine, USC Healthcare Consultation Center, 1510 San Pablo Street, No. 415, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. rcohen@hsc.usc.edu
World Journal of Surgery
|May 8, 2001
Summary
Living-donor lung transplants show acceptable outcomes, with 72% one-year survival. Donor safety is high, and recipients experience improved quality of life post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic Surgery
- Transplantation Medicine
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Living-donor lung transplantation (LDLT) has emerged as an alternative to cadaveric grafts.
- Initially focused on rapidly deteriorating cystic fibrosis patients, indications have broadened.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes and safety of living-donor bilateral lung transplantation.
- To assess recipient survival, causes of mortality, rejection rates, and donor outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 101 living-donor bilateral lung transplants performed since 1993.
- Review of donor lobectomy procedures (n=203) and recipient outcomes, including survival and quality of life.
Main Results:
- One-year Kaplan-Meier recipient survival is 72%, with most deaths (76%) occurring within 2 months, primarily due to infection (62%).
- Rejection incidence is low (0.8 episodes/patient), often mild and unilateral.
- No donor mortality was reported; donors reported high quality of life post-donation.
Conclusions:
- LDLT offers acceptable results for select patients with end-stage pulmonary disease.
- Donor safety is excellent, with no reported mortality and high post-donation quality of life.
- Recipient outcomes demonstrate the viability of LDLT, though infection remains a significant challenge.