A new technique for double lung transplantation. "Bilateral single lung" transplantation

Two techniques are currently practiced to achieve bilateral lung transplantation for the treatment of patients with end-stage pulmonary disease associated with infection: heart-lung transplantation, which is illogical, and double lung transplantation by the Toronto technique, which is difficult and entails tracheal complications. After our short experience with single lung transplantation without any bronchial problems, we have performed three double lung transplantations by a new technique, "bilateral single lung" transplantation. After a sternal bithoracotomy, first one lung was transplanted and then the other, without cardiopulmonary bypass. This bilateral single lung transplantation provides all the advantages of single lung transplantation and is particularly recommended for use in patients with severe pleural adhesions.