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Donor Posterior Atrial Flap Rotation for Left Atrial Cuff Reconstruction in Lung Transplantation
Published on: October 11, 2024
Symptomatic hyperammonemia after lung transplantation: lessons learnt.
Siddiq Anwar1, Diptesh Gupta, Muhammad A Ashraf
1Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
Summary
Hyperammonemia after lung transplant is fatal, but prompt intervention can save lives. Aggressive dialysis and multidisciplinary care significantly improve survival rates for these critical patients.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Nephrology
- Transplantation
Background:
- Hyperammonemia is a rare, often fatal complication following orthotopic lung transplantation.
- Existing therapies for hyperammonemia include reducing ammonia production, enhancing nitrogen excretion, and various dialysis methods.
Observation:
- This study details three lung transplant recipients who experienced acute hyperammonemia early post-transplant.
- Two patients survived a critical hyperammonemia episode through intensive management.
Findings:
- A multidisciplinary approach involving drug cessation (urea cycle impairing), aggressive ammonia reduction via prolonged daily intermittent hemodialysis (HD), and slow low-efficiency nocturnal dialysis was employed.
- Early steroid weaning and other therapeutic measures were also part of the successful strategy.
Implications:
- Early, high-dose, and frequent hemodialysis is crucial for managing post-lung transplant hyperammonemia.
- Hemodialysis is preferred over less efficient dialysis modalities for improved patient survival.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for improving outcomes in lung transplant recipients with hyperammonemia.
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