Long-term Prognosis After Lung Transplantation: A Monocentric Study in 510 Patients

Lung transplantation is the final treatment option in patients with respiratory failure. Morbidity and mortality rates associated with the management of complications is high despite advances. Postoperative complications include acute transplant rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans, and infections. Because of that, the success of this treatment option depends on the correct choice of donor and candidates to receive a transplant.

This study aims to perform a survival analysis of transplanted patients in our center and determine predictive variables of mortality.

This study is a retrospective assessment of data collected from 510 patients at the Hospital University Reina Sofía from October 1993 to December 31, 2016. Patients who were retransplanted were excluded. We collected data regarding basal characteristics of the donors and candidates to receive a transplant. We analyzed the impact in terms of future survival of basal variables from donor and donor recipients.

Five hundred ten patients were included (average age 44 ± 17 years, 69% male), with a maximum follow-up period of 21.6 years (average follow-up 4.52 years, interquartile ratio: 0.13 to 6.97 years). Two hundred twenty-seven patients died (54.3% of the total amount). The influence of donor's basal characteristics on mortality was analyzed; moreover, the relationship between basal variables and survival were analyzed using univariate analysis. Available variables were analyzed through multivariate analysis.

Lung transplantation is a treatment option with an acceptable risk of morbidity and mortality. Increased awareness of features of evolution could help to reduce postoperative complications.