Experience of donation after citizens death for lung transplant: report of 19 cases / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the experience of harvesting and using the lungs from donation after citizens death.Method From November 2007 to December 2013,19 cases of potential donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after cardiac death (DCD) were evaluated,including 9 cases of DCD and 10 cases of DBD.All the patients received the tests of sputum culture,bedside bronchoscopes,chest X rays,and blood gas analysis.After clear evaluation,3 cases of DCD and 3 cases of DBD were discharged from the group for bilateral inflammatory infiltration and poor oxygenation index,and the rest one case of DCD was precluded due to long warm ischemic time (＞60 min).The donor lungs from remaining 12 cases were harvested successfully after the declaration of brain death or cardiac death.The donors suitable for the transplant procedure were transported to our transplant center.Result Twelve lung transplants were performed successfully,including 10 cases of bilateral lung transplantation and 2 cases of right single lung transplantation.Two patients was complicated with severe infection and died of sepsis postoperatively,and the remaining 10 patients all recovered uneventfully with dramatic improvement of pulmonary function.During the follow-up period,all the patients lived an active life style with high quality of life.The mean survival time was 34.7 months (4-60 months).Conclusion Lung transplantation using DCD and DBD can be successfully performed after adequate preoperative evaluation of donor lung and abundant preparation for donor harvesting.