Previous thoracic surgery does not increase peri-operative mortality in pediatric heart-lung transplant recipients

Heart-lung transplant (HLT) is indicated in select children with end-stage cardiopulmonary disease. We sought to determine whether previous thoracic surgery increases peri-operative morbidity and mortality.

Retrospective data were analyzed using unpaired Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. Results are reported as mean +/- SD. Peri-operative mortality was defined as death at

From August 1993 through April 2001, 13 patients (mean age 7.9 +/- 5.3 years; 9 girls, 4 boys) underwent HLT at our center. Eight of 13 (62%) had previous thoracic surgery and 5 of 13 (38%) did not. Interval of last surgery to transplant date was 45.5 +/- 26.4 months (range 6 to 79 months). We compared HLT patients who had previous thoracic surgery to HLT recipients who did not. There was no significant difference in weight (18.6 +/- 14.3 vs 36.5 +/- 20.7 kg, p = 0.09), age (6.5 +/- 4.5 vs 10.2 +/- 6.1 years, p = 0.23) or duration of intubation (14.1 +/- 12.9 vs 17.0 +/- 30.3 days, p = 0.83). There were no caval or tracheal anastomotic stenoses in either group. There was no significant difference in blood products transfused

We conclude that previous thoracic surgery in HLT recipients does not significantly increase blood product transfusion, cardiopulmonary bypass time or peri-operative mortality.