[Lung Transplantation at a Low Volume Center]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Transplantation Medicine

Background:

• Lung transplantation in Japan is performed at a very low volume compared to other nations.
• Japan has 10 certified cadaveric lung transplantation facilities, indicating a prevalence of low-volume centers.
• This hospital has performed 21 lung transplantations over 12 years, classifying it as a low-volume center.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the surgical outcomes and survival rates of lung transplantation at a low-volume center in Japan.
• To assess the effectiveness of the Japanese accreditation system for lung transplantation.
• To highlight the potential of innovative procedures like inverted lung transplantation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 21 lung transplantation cases performed over 12 years (by August 2021).
• Comparison of the hospital's survival rates with national averages for lung transplantation.
• Inclusion of data on three cases of inverted lung transplantation.

Main Results:

• The hospital achieved an overall five-year survival rate of 84.8% and a cadaveric five-year survival rate of 94.4%.
• These survival rates are significantly better than the Japanese national average of approximately 73%.
• Three cases of inverted lung transplantation yielded good results, demonstrating the viability of this approach.

Conclusions:

• Low-volume lung transplantation centers can achieve superior surgical outcomes and survival rates.
• The Japanese accreditation system for lung transplantation appears to be functioning effectively.
• Inverted lung transplantation is a promising strategy to maximize transplantation opportunities and improve patient outcomes.