Early experience with lung transplantation using donors after cardiac death

Lung transplantations that utilize donor organs after cardiac death (DCD) can substantially increase the number of available allografts for waiting recipients. Unfortunately, reported clinical outcomes are limited and widespread acceptance is slow. To further examine the potential of this modality, the results of 4 patients transplanted with DCD organs, implementing a protocol of controlled organ retrieval (Maastricht Classification III), were reviewed. There were no operative deaths; extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in 1 patient secondary to severe primary graft dysfunction. Three patients are alive and well at 4, 15 and 21 months; 1 patient died at 34 months with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, in part attributable to medication non-compliance.