[Lung Retransplantation for Cadaveric Lung-transplant Recipients]

As the number of lung transplantation is increasing in Japan, retransplantation is also expected to increase, especially for chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). According to international experience on lung retransplantation, the short and long-term outcomes of retransplantation is inferior to the initial lung transplantation. Thus, indication and surgical options of retransplantation should be carefully and objectively examined. Especially, patients with recognized poor prognostic factors for retransplantation should be carefully evaluated. Such factors include indications other than CLAD, restrictive allograft syndrome( RAS), and a case with short time period since the first transplantation. In addition, those with relatively old age, declined renal function, and immunological sensitization( especially formation of antibodies against human leukocyte antigen) should also be carefully evaluated. Medication adherence is one of the most important parts of assessment for retransplantation. Surgically, lung retransplantation ipsilateral to the initial transplantation needs careful dissection of hilar structures. In addition, special caution is needed for cases expected to have severe pleural adhesion including those with RAS.