First brain dead donor bilateral lobar lung transplant in Turkey

A 57-year-old woman with severe bilateral bronchiectasis was evaluated for lung transplant. She was 148 cm tall and weighed 46 kg. Her FEV(1) was 0.63 liters (32% of predicted). Her PAO(2) was 64.6 mm Hg, and her Pa(CO2) was 44 mm Hg. All of her cardiac functions were within normal ranges. Her mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 32 mm Hg. She had no infections and no other systemic diseases. She was psychologically well and eager to undergo the lung transplant. She underwent a bilateral brain dead donor lobar lung transplant. After the recipient pneumo-nectomies had been performed, bilateral lower lobes were implanted sequentially. She was given extracorporeal membrane support during the operation. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Chest drains were removed after 8 days. She went to the general ward on the fifth postoperative day, and was discharged on the 15th day. As of this writing, she has had no problems through the ninth month follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, she is the first case of successful bilateral brain dead donor lung transplant in our country.