Medium-term results of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute lung injury after lung transplantation
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Published on: February 14, 2022
P S Dahlberg1, M E Prekker, C S Herrington
1Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 207, Minneapolis, MN 55435, USA. dahlb002@umn.edu
Background:
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used successfully for early, severe reperfusion injury after lung transplantation. The purposes of this study are to: (1) document the medium-term survival of patients treated with ECMO; and (2) assess the extent of recovery of their pulmonary function.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed charts of 172 patients having lung transplants at our institution from 1997 through 2002. The group included 16 patients (9% of total; 10 bilateral, 5 single, 1 living lobar) treated with ECMO for primary allograft failure after single or bilateral single-lung transplantation. Survival and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS)-free survival rates were calculated. Pulmonary function was assessed at 2 months, 1 year and 2 years post-transplant.
Results:
Median hospital stay was 48 days for the ECMO group and 16 days for the overall group (p < 0.05). The 90-day survival was 60% in the ECMO group, and 90% in the overall group. The 2-year survival was 46% in the ECMO group, and 69% in the overall group. Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) in the ECMO group at 1 year was 59 +/- 13% of predicted, and at 2 years 60 +/- 15% of predicted; it was not significantly different for the overall group.
Conclusions:
Patients treated with ECMO for primary allograft failure after lung transplantation showed acceptable medium-term survival and pulmonary function.
