Elective transplant pneumonectomy in a 38-year-old man

Area of Science:

• Surgical procedures
• Thoracic surgery
• Lung transplantation

Background:

• Transplant pneumonectomy, the removal of a transplanted lung, is a rare surgical procedure.
• It is typically performed during lung retransplantation.
• Resection of a transplanted lung without replacement has not been previously documented in adult cases.

Observation:

• A 38-year-old male underwent an elective left transplant pneumonectomy.
• This procedure occurred 6 years after his initial left single-lung transplant.
• The patient had no replacement lung inserted during the pneumonectomy.

Findings:

• The patient experienced a successful outcome following the transplant pneumonectomy.
• At 12 months post-surgery, the patient remained in good health.
• The patient maintained good exercise tolerance after the procedure.

Implications:

• This case suggests that transplant pneumonectomy without replacement can be a viable option in select adult patients.
• It highlights a potential management strategy for complications or failures in single-lung transplant recipients.
• Further research may explore the long-term outcomes and patient selection criteria for this procedure.