Volume of graft and native lung after single-lung transplantation for emphysema

To assess how the presence of the hyperinflated native lung influences the volume of the graft after single-lung transplantation (SLT) for emphysema, we used chest computed tomography to measure the TLC of each lung at a mean of 326 d before and 239, 588, and 932 d after SLT in nine patients. In addition, we obtained measurements of TLC and FRC in these nine patients plus one additional recipient at 697 d after surgery, and in 10 nonsmoking normal subjects matched for age, sex, height, and weight. On the nontransplanted side, TLC averaged 3.57 L before and 3.73 L, 3.70 L, and 3.73 L after SLT (NS). Corresponding values on the transplanted side were 3.42 L before and 2.06 L, 1.96 L, and 1.90 L after surgery, respectively (p < 0. 0002). Compared with the values obtained on the ipsilateral side in the control subjects, the FRC of the graft amounted to 100%, but its TLC was decreased to 79% (p < 0.005). We conclude that (1) the TLC of the graft and of the native lung do not change over time after SLT for emphysema, and (2) compared with the ipsilateral lung in normal control subjects, the TLC of the graft is substantially reduced, but its FRC is within normal limits.