Anastasios N. Triantafillou

Improved technique for bilateral lung transplantation: Rationale and initial clinical experience

We previously described a technique for en bloc double-lung transplantation that was initially applied to select patients with cystic fibrosis and emphysema. This procedure is quite complex and associated with several limitations, including a substantial incidence of airway ischemia, postoperative myocardial depression, and cardiac denervation. To address these problems we have developed a simpler procedure for replacing both lungs. The operation is done through a transverse thoracosternotomy and involves sequential replacement of the two lungs. Positive features include separate bronchial anastomoses to reduce ischemic airway complications, elimination of the need for total cardiopulmonary bypass and a period of ischemic cardiac arrest, improved exposure to reduce intraoperative and postoperative hemorrhage, and maintenance of cardiac innervation. Additionally, the technique can be more easily mastered and widely applied. Details of the procedure and its initial clinical application in 3 patients having emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiolitis obliterans following previous double-lung transplantation, respectively, are described. All 3 patients recovered without complication. Postoperative function was excellent in spite of lung ischemic times ranging up to 91/2 hours.

Single Lung Transplantation for Pulmonary Hypertension Single Institution Experience in 34 Patients

BACKGROUND The present study considered the uniformity and durability of the cardiopulmonary response to single lung transplantation in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, as well as its effect on length and quality of survival. METHODS AND RESULTS Thirty-four patients with pulmonary hypertension underwent evaluation, single lung transplantation, and follow-up assessment between November 1, 1989, and June 1, 1994. Operative survival for the entire group of patients was reasonable, with 91% (31 of 34 patients) surviving and being discharged from the hospital following transplantation. The actuarial survival for these 34 patients at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up was 78%, 66%, and 61%, respectively. In the subgroup of 24 patients with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), 96% (23 of 24) were successfully discharged from the hospital after transplantation. The actuarial survival for this isolated PPH subgroup at 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up was 87%, 76%, and 68%, respectively. The uniform, early posttransplant normalization of pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular ejection fraction appears to persist throughout the 4-year follow-up period. Despite a high prevalence of bronchiolitis obliterans, the majority of survivors remain in New York Heart Association functional class I or II and are employed. CONCLUSIONS Single lung transplantation can be performed in patients with end-stage pulmonary vascular disease with reasonable expectations for a relatively low operative mortality; immediate, complete, and durable amelioration of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure; and optimal use of limited donor organ supply.

Predictors, frequency, and indications for cardiopulmonary bypass during lung transplantation in adults

The records for 162 lung transplantations performed in 158 patients were reviewed with regard to the predictors for, frequency of, and indications for using cardiopulmonary bypass during the procedure. There were a total of 8 en bloc double-lung transplantations, 83 single-lung transplantations, and 71 bilateral single-lung transplantations. Bypass was used electively for all double en bloc and three of the bilateral sequential lung transplantation procedures and for 26 unilateral lung replacement procedures in patients with pulmonary hypertension. Of the remaining patients, 1 single-lung transplant recipient required bypass for correction of a surgical mishap and 18 bilateral single-lung recipients required bypass during replacement of the second lung. No preoperative predictors for the need of bypass could be identified. Among the bilateral sequential lung recipients, the use of bypass did not seem to adversely affect outcome, as expressed in terms of the time until extubation, the time spent in the intensive care unit, and the time required to reach a room air oxygen tension greater than 60 mm Hg.

Cardiac and pulmonary replacement Inhaled nitric oxide improves lung allograft function after prolonged storage

Morbidity caused by early allograft dysfunction, manifested by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and a decrease in oxygenation, remains a serious problem in lung transplantation. Inhalation of nitric oxide, an essential homeostatic molecule, has been shown to have beneficial effects on a variety of acute lung injuries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of inhaled nitric oxide on posttransplant function of canine left lung allografts. Fourteen dogs underwent left lung allotransplantation. Donors received systemic heparin and prostaglandin E1 followed by pulmonary artery flush with modified Euro-Collins solution. Donor left lungs were stored for 18 hours at 1 degree C and subsequently implanted. Immediately after reperfusion, the contralateral right main pulmonary artery and bronchus were ligated. The chest was closed and recipients turned to the supine position for the 6-hour assessment period. Hemodynamic and arterial and venous blood gas analyses were made at 15-minute intervals at an inspired oxygen fraction of 1.0 and 5 cm of water positive end-expiratory pressure. Animals were killed at the end of the assessment. Allograft myeloperoxidase activity assays and wet/dry weight ratios were done. In group I (n = 5), nitric oxide gas was administered continuously at concentrations of 60 to 70 ppm before reperfusion and throughout the 6-hour assessment period. In group II (n = 5), nitric oxide administration was initiated at the same concentration after reperfusion injury had developed. Group III animals (n = 4) received no nitric oxide. Significant improvement in gas exchange was apparent in group I. At the end of the 6-hour assessment period, mean arterial oxygen tension was 253.8 +/- 44.7 mm Hg and 114.9 +/- 25.5 mm Hg in groups I and III, respectively (p < 0.05). Group II animals had no improvement in oxygenation with nitric oxide. Systemic hemodynamics were unaffected by nitric oxide. However, an immediate decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance was noted. Group I myeloperoxidase activity was significantly lower than that in control group III (0.24 +/- 0.06 versus 0.36 +/- 0.04 units, respectively; p < 0.05).

Inhaled nitric oxide at the time of harvest improves early lung allograft function.

BACKGROUND Inhalation of nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to have beneficial effects on a variety of acute lung injuries, including lung allograft reperfusion injury. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of inhaled NO at the time of harvest on function of canine left lung allografts after transplantation. METHODS Ten dogs underwent left lung allotransplantation. Donor lungs were flushed with modified Euro-Collins solution and stored for 21 hours at 1 degree C. Immediately after transplantation, the contralateral main pulmonary artery and bronchus were ligated to assess isolated allograft function. Hemodynamics and arterial blood gases (inspired oxygen fraction, 1.0) were assessed intermittently for 6 hours prior to sacrifice. Allograft myeloperoxidase activity and wet to dry weight ratio were assessed. Donor animals were divided into two groups. Group I animals (n = 5) received no NO. In group II (n = 5), donors received inhaled NO (60 ppm) at the time of harvest. RESULTS Pulmonary vascular resistance decreased to 79.6% of baseline because of inhalation of 60 ppm NO in group II donor animals. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive materials were reduced during the storage period in group II, a finding suggesting less oxidant injury during storage in donor lungs treated with NO. Throughout the 6-hour assessment, oxygenation in group II was superior to that in group I (p < 0.05). At 360 minutes of assessment, mean arterial oxygen tension in groups I and II was 88.9 +/- 11.4 mm Hg and 169.1 +/- 33.0 mm Hg, respectively. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly decreased in group II (p < 0.05), data indicating reduced neutrophil sequestration. Wet to dry weight ratio was significantly lower in group II. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that inhaled NO at the time of harvest improves early function of preserved lung allografts by attenuating oxidant injury during storage and subsequent neutrophil sequestration.

Effect of aprotinin on activated clotting time whole blood and plasma heparin measurements

Twenty cardiac surgical patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in this study designed to evaluate the effect of aprotinin on activated clotting time (kaolin and celite), whole blood, and laboratory-based plasma (anti-Xa) heparin measurements. Whole blood heparin measurements were not different (p = 0.98) between aprotinin-treated (3.2 +/- 2.8 U/mL) and control (3.2 +/- 3.0 U/mL) specimens. Plasma anti-Xa heparin measurements were also not different (p = 0.95) between aprotinin-treated (2.7 +/- 2.5 U/mL) and control (2.8 +/- 2.5 U/mL) specimens. The relationship between whole blood (plasma equivalent) and plasma heparin measurements was similar (p = 0.1) in the presence (slope, 1.04; r2 = 0.89) or absence (slope, 1.11; r2 = 0.89) of aprotinin. In contrast to weak correlations between celite (r = 0.50) or kaolin (r = 0.53) activated clotting time values, whole blood heparin measurements correlated well (r = 0.93) with plasma heparin measurements during cardiopulmonary bypass in the presence of aprotinin. These findings indicate that whole blood heparin measurements are unaffected by aprotinin and correlate well with plasma anti-Xa heparin measurements even in the presence of aprotinin. Therefore, the automated protamine titration assay can be used to monitor accurately heparin concentrations in patients receiving aprotinin.

Pressure Gradient Across the Pulmonary Artery Anastomosis During Lung Transplantation

BACKGROUND Perioperative monitoring of pulmonary artery (PA) pressures in lung transplant recipients is critical. This report characterizes an intraoperative gradient across the PA anastomosis in a series of patients undergoing bilateral sequential lung transplantation. METHODS Hemodynamic measurements were obtained in a series of 10 patients before anesthetic induction, during one-lung ventilation/perfusion of the newly transplanted first lung with the PA catheter proximal and distal to the anastomosis and after arrival in the intensive care unit. The following measurements were recorded: central venous pressure, cardiac output, PA occlusion pressure, and systemic and pulmonary arterial pressures (systolic, diastolic, mean). RESULTS Although a systolic pressure gradient of more than 10 mm Hg across the anastomosis was observed in all patients, there was a significant variation in systolic (13 to 59 mm Hg), diastolic (2 to 10 mm Hg), and mean (5 to 27 mm Hg) PA gradients. Mean proximal systolic PA pressure measurements (56.2 +/- 20.6 mm Hg) were greater when compared to measurements obtained distal to the anastomosis (28.6 +/- 10.1 mm Hg, p = 0.001) and to those obtained in the postoperative period (32.1 +/- 9.7 mm Hg, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that during single-lung ventilation and perfusion, the PA pressure measured proximally may not reflect accurately the pressure distal to the vascular anastomosis.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting After a Bilateral Lung Volume Reduction Operation

A 67-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass grafting 31/2 months after a bilateral lung volume reduction operation for end-stage pulmonary emphysema. The principles of anesthetic management we have developed for use during volume reduction operations were applied with success in this individual and are described in detail. With the increasing application of this intervention as an alternative to lung transplantation, we anticipate further experience in the operative management of associated conditions after lung volume reduction operations.