[Experimental lung transplantation at the Research Institute for Lung Diseases and Tuberculosis Berlin-Buch....

Report on the technical standard of unilateral orthotopic allogenic lung transplantation (allo- or homotransplantation) which has been developed and tried on animals since years at The Institute for Research on Pulmonary Diseases and Tuberculosis in Berlin-Buch. Technical insufficiencies which are crucial for essential alterations of the graft in autogenous lung transplantation (replantation) can not be excluded in allogenic transplantations also. By means of certain direct and indirect criteria the authors examined the development of quality of the technical standard between the years 1973 and 1976. Only based on optimal technique the results from examinations of recipient and graft can be correctly valued. On the other hand, optimal technique is an indispensable presupposition for optimal efficiency of several immunosuppressive methods. Duration of anesthesis, operation, ischemia of the transplantate, and of atrial, arterial, and bronchial anastomosis are considered for the assessment of the quality of technical standard. Thrombosis of pulmonary vein and of atrium was the most frequent complication in 71 allogenic pulmonary graftings. Their frequency decreased with improved technical skill, but some circumstances suggest that their formation is favored also by other factors. The duration of survival after unilateral allogenic lung transplantation is reported, although this is no direct scale for the technical performance.