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Early graft function following heart and lung transplantation
J P McGoldrick1, J Scott, A Jamieson
1Heart-Lung Transplant Unit, Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Summary
This study reports on heart-lung transplantation outcomes. Early graft function was successful in patients receiving organs preserved with a novel cold cardioplegic and flush technique.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Heart-lung transplantation is a complex procedure with challenges in organ preservation.
- Optimizing donor organ viability is critical for successful graft function and patient survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical experience and early graft function following heart-lung transplantation.
- To assess the efficacy of a specific organ preservation method involving cold cardioplegia and pulmonary artery flushing.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-one heart-lung transplantations performed between April 1984 and October 1988.
- Donor organs preserved using St. Thomas' solution for cardiac cardioplegia and a custom lung perfusate flush.
- Prostacyclin infusion administered during organ procurement.
Main Results:
- No primary organ failures were reported in the study cohort.
- Graft function assessed via gas exchange, pulmonary function tests, extubation time, and survival.
- Serial radiological studies monitored postoperative graft performance.
Conclusions:
- The described organ preservation technique demonstrated successful early graft function in heart-lung transplantation.
- This method contributed to positive outcomes in a cohort of 51 transplant patients.