Itaru Nagahiro

Pulmonary function, postoperative pain, and serum cytokine level after lobectomy: a comparison of VATS and conventional procedure

BACKGROUND Although lobectomy by the video-assisted thoracic surgical (VATS) approach is assumed to be less invasive than lobectomy by the standard posterolateral thoracotomy (PLT) approach, it has not been scientifically proven. METHODS Twenty-two consecutive, nonrandomized patients, underwent either a VATS approach (n = 13) or a posterolateral thoracotomy approach (n = 9) to perform pulmonary lobectomy for peripheral lung cancers in clinical stage I. Pain and serum cytokines were measured until postoperative day (POD) 14. Pulmonary function tests were performed on POD 7 and POD 14. RESULTS Postoperative pain was significantly less in the VATS group on PODs 0, 1, 7, and 14. Recovery of pulmonary function was statistically better in the VATS group. Negative correlations between the recovery rates of pulmonary function and postoperative pain were observed on POD 7. The serum interleukin-6 level in the PLT group was significantly elevated on POD 0 compared with the VATS group (posterolateral thoracotomy: 21.6+/-24.3 pg/mL; VATS: 4.1+/-7.9 pg/mL, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Lobectomy by the VATS approach generates less pain and cytokine production, and preserves better pulmonary function in the early postoperative phase.

Living-donor lobar lung transplantation for various lung diseases

OBJECTIVE We report on our early experience in living-donor lobar lung transplantation for patients with various lung diseases including restrictive, obstructive, septic, and hypertensive lung diseases. METHODS From October 1998 to March 2002, living-donor lobar lung transplantation was performed in 14 patients with end-stage lung diseases. There were 11 female patients and 3 male patients, with ages ranging from 8 to 53 years, including 4 children and 10 adults. Diagnoses included primary pulmonary hypertension (n = 6), idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (n = 2), bronchiolitis obliterans (n = 2), bronchiectasis (n = 2), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (n = 1), and cystic fibrosis (n = 1). Bilateral living-donor lobar lung transplantation was performed in 13 patients and right single living-donor lobar lung transplantation was performed for a 10-year-old boy with primary pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS All the 14 patients are currently alive with a follow-up period of 4 to 45 months. Although their forced vital capacity (1327 +/- 78 mL, 50.2% of predicted) was limited at discharge, arterial oxygen tension on room air (98.5 +/- 1.8 mm Hg) and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (24.8 +/- 1.6 mm Hg) were excellent. Forced vital capacity improved gradually and reached 1894 +/- 99 mL, 67.4% of predicted, at 1 year. All donors have returned to their previous lifestyles. CONCLUSIONS Living-donor lobar lung transplantation can be applied to restrictive, obstructive, septic, and hypertensive lung diseases. This type of procedure can be an alternative to conventional cadaveric lung transplantation for both pediatric and adult patients who would die soon otherwise.

Living-donor lobar lung transplantation for primary ciliary dyskinesia.

A ventilator-dependent patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia underwent successful living-donor lobar lung transplantation. The case was a 24-year-old woman who had developed recurrent lower respiratory infection and became ventilator-dependent due to severe bronchiectasis. Transmission electron microscopy of the resected bronchus demonstrated inner dynein arm deficiency.

Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Is Effective in Preventing Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism After Thoracic Surgery

AbstractPurpose. Postoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) remains a fatal complication even in thoracic surgery. We have used intermittent pneumatic compression for the prophylaxis of postoperative PE since 1998, and herein examined its effectiveness. Methods. Seven hundred and six patients, whose medical records showed use/no use of pneumatic compression for prophylaxis of PE, underwent general thoracic surgery in our department from December 1995 to December 2000. Their clinical records were reviewed, and variables were compared between patients who experienced clinically apparent PE and patients who did not have PE. Results. Three hundred and forty-four patients did not receive any prophylactic treatment, and 7 of these (2.0%) experienced postoperative PE. Three hundred and sixty-two patients received prophylactic pneumatic compression and none of these developed PE. There was a statistical correlation between the occurrence of PE and the application of pneumatic compression (Χ2-test, P = 0.006). Six of the seven patients with PE were operated on in the right decubitus position, and the operative position and the prevalence of PE was also significantly correlated (Χ2-test, P = 0.024). Other factors, such as age, sex, operative time, duration until patients became fully ambulatory, body mass index, and character of the disease, did not have significant correlation with the occurrence of PE. Conclusions. Pneumatic compression was found to effectively prevent postoperative PE. The right decubitus position is considered to be a risk factor for the development of postoperative PE in thoracic surgery.

Experimental orthotopic lung transplantation model in rats with cold storage

This report describes a new experimental procedure, a rat unilateral, orthotopic lung transplantation with cold storage, and evaluates its relevancy and reliability to study the early events during cold ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. This model, using the cuff technique, does not require extensive training and is relatively easy to be established. The model can induce reproducible degrees of pulmonary graft injury including impaired gas exchange, proinflammatory cytokine upregulation, or inflammatory infiltrates, depending on the preservation time. The results are consistent with the previous clinical evidence, thus suggesting that this model is a valid and reliable animal model of cold I/R injury.

Bronchopleural Fistula after Lobectomy for Lung Cancer

Bronchopleural fistula after lung resection is a fatal complication. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for bronchopleural fistula after lobectomy for lung cancer. Clinical records of 767 patients who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy for lung cancer in our institution were reviewed. Twelve patients (1.6%) suffered a bronchopleural fistula, of whom 5 died because of this complication (mortality rate, 41.7%). Multivariate analysis revealed squamous cell carcinoma, preoperative chemotherapy, lower lobectomy, and middle and lower lobectomy were risk factors for bronchopleural fistula. In such cases, particular care must be exercised to maintain blood flow through the bronchial stump during surgery, and reinforcement, such as stump coverage, must be employed.

EPC-K1 Is Effective in Lung Preservation in an Ex Vivo Rabbit Lung Perfusion Model

BACKGROUND L-Ascorbic acid 2-[3,4-dihydro-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)-2H -1-benzopyran-6yl-hydrogen phosphate] potassium salt (EPC-K1) is a phosphate diester of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid. It has been reported that EPC-K1 inhibits lipid peroxidation and phospholipase A2. We hypothesized that EPC-K1 might enhance lung preservation and reduce the degree of posttransplantation lung dysfunction. METHODS Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups, as follows: group 1, no preservation (n = 6); groups 2 (n = 6) and 3 (n = 6), 24 hours of preservation at 8 degrees C. Low-potassium dextran-1% glucose solution was used for flushing and immersion in all groups, but EPC-K1 (0.5 mg/L) was added to the solution used in group 3. After storage the left lung was reperfused with autologous blood and ventilated using a membrane oxygenator in an isolated rabbit lung reperfusion model. The grafts used in the group 1 rabbits were perfused for 5 hours to confirm the reliability of this model, and the grafts used in the group 2 and 3 rabbits were perfused for 2 hours. Pulmonary arterial pressure, airway pressure, blood gas analysis, and the lipid peroxide level of the perfusate were assessed. The lipid peroxide levels of the lung tissue before and after storage and the wet-dry weight ratio of the perfused lung were determined in groups 2 and 3. RESULTS Superior graft function was noted in group 3 in terms of all indices. The lipid peroxide level in the perfusate and the wet-dry weight ratio were also suppressed in group 3. The lipid peroxide level in the lung tissue did not change during storage in either group. CONCLUSIONS The administration of EPC-K1 in the flush and preservation solution helps enhance lung graft function and suppresses lipid peroxidation after reperfusion.

Pulmonary vein thrombosis treated successfully by thrombectomy after bilateral sequential lung transplantation: report of a case.

Abstract.We report the case of a 35-year-old man in whom an acute pulmonary vein thrombosis developed following bilateral sequential lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis. The thrombus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography 12 h after transplantation and an emergency thrombectomy was successfully performed.

Experimental study of oversized grafts in a canine living-donor lobar lung transplantation model

BACKGROUND For infants and small children, organ transplantation is limited by the size discrepancy between donor and recipient. To address this problem, the use of over-sized grafts from living-relative donors could potentially expand the donor pool. The aim of this experimental study was to evaluate the effect of oversized grafts on early pulmonary function and to identify an indicator for acceptable size discrepancy. METHODS Fourteen bilateral lobar lung allotransplant operations were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass in weight mismatched pairs of dogs. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Group I (n = 7), donor/recipient lung volume ratio < 2.85; Group II (n = 7), donor/recipient lung volume ratio >2.85. Pulmonary function of the recipient was measured before chest closure, after chest closure, and after the ventilator was removed. RESULTS Pulmonary vascular resistance and airway pressure significantly increased in Group II after chest closure (1493 +/- 195 dynes sec cm(-5) and 14.4 +/- 0.9 mm Hg vs 2784 +/- 140 dynes sec cm(-5) and 23.4 +/- 1.2 mm Hg, p < 0.001). After the ventilator was removed, all recipients in Group I showed PaO2 > 239 mm Hg and PaCO2 < 76 mm Hg, whereas, all recipients in Group II showed PaO2 < 116 mm Hg and PaCO2 > 169 mm Hg. The donor/recipient chest circumference ratio was less than 1.3 in all but 1 dog in Group I. CONCLUSIONS Acceptable, oversized grafts provide adequate pulmonary function, although excessively oversized grafts cause significant impairment in pulmonary function after chest closure. Chest circumference provides useful size-match criteria when oversized grafts are used in this canine experimental model.

Referrals for lung transplantation in Japan. Unique indications and necessity of living-donor lobar lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to review all referrals to our lung transplant program and to find realistic options for accepted candidates in Japan. METHODS During the period from April 1992 to August 1999, 45 referrals were received. After screening, 22 of the referred patients were admitted for an extensive inpatient evaluation, and 15 of these were accepted as candidates for transplantation. RESULTS The indication was primary pulmonary hypertension in 9, bronchiectasis in 2, lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 2, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in 1, and pneumoconiosis in the other 1. Two of those with primary pulmonary hypertension went to the USA and there received bilateral lung transplant. One with bronchiectasis received living-donor lobar lung transplantation in our center. These three recipients are alive and doing well during the follow-up period of 11 to 69 months. Among the 12 patients who have not received lung transplant, 5 patients have died while waiting. CONCLUSIONS Indications for lung transplant are quite distinct in Japan, and primary pulmonary hypertension is the most frequent indication. Living-donor lobar lung transplantation is a realistic option for properly selected candidates.