Single lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension without cardiopulmonary bypass

We report the first case, to our knowledge, of single lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension carried out without cardiopulmonary bypass. This operation seems to be possible even if the right ventricular ejection fraction is low (0.17) and the pulmonary vascular resistance very high (1,096 dynes.s.cm5). Since 1981, heart-lung transplantation has been successfully performed in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. If heart-lung transplantation results in resolution of pulmonary hypertension, the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis is significant in heart-lung transplantation recipients. Single lung transplantation has been performed for end-stage interstitial and obstructive lung disease but has not been considered a good option for primary pulmonary hypertension due to concerns that a single transplanted lung would be unable to cope with the entire blood flow. However, recently single lung transplantation has been performed for primary pulmonary hypertension, the risk of obliterative bronchiolitis remaining unknown. The purpose of this communication is to report one case of single lung transplantation for primary pulmonary hypertension and the feasibility of this operation without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, if cardiopulmonary bypass is thought to be dangerous.