Pulmonary "twinning" procedure: use of lungs from one donor for single-lung transplantation in two recipients

Since the introduction of lung transplantation as an option for patients with end-stage respiratory disease in the early 1980s, there have been substantial advances made in the technical aspects of transplantation as well as the early clinical results. With an ever-increasing number of patients being designated suitable candidates for transplantation, the volume of transplants in the foreseeable future will be limited more on the basis of donor lung supply than any other single factor. Pulmonary "twinning" provides an important step in ensuring that all suitable and available donor lungs are utilized whenever feasible. This report reviews the results of 20 single-lung transplantations carried out in five separate transplantation centers using organs retrieved from ten donors. The overall mortality rate in this group of patients was 5%, which compares very favorably with historical controls. No serious problem was noted with respect to increased perioperative morbidity or increased ischemic times in this group of patients. We suggest that this process should be considered and, wherever possible, adopted by all major lung transplant centers.