Lung transplantation: a decade of experience.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 3 decades, the field of lung transplantation has been refined. However, many barriers exist that limit long-term success. The purpose of this study was to review a single institution's long-term experience with single and double lung transplantation and to assess the effect of different immunosuppressive therapies on outcomes. METHODS: Lung transplant recipients, both single and double, were reviewed, retrospectively. Patients were divided into five groups: group I, all lung transplants (n = 127); group II, single lung transplants (n = 73); group III, double lung transplants (n = 54); group IV, OKT3 induction therapy recipients (n = 27); and group V, RATG induction therapy recipients (n = 100). Rates of survival, rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) and infection were analyzed at 1, 3, and 5 years. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in survival, acute rejection rate, freedom from BOS, nor infection between single and double lung transplant recipients. Induction therapy with RATG (group V) was associated with significantly improved survival and freedom from acute rejection, BOS, and infection when compared to OKT3 induction therapy (group IV). CONCLUSIONS: An earlier impression that RATG is superior to OKT3 induction therapy has borne true in terms of overall survival and incidence of BOS, acute rejection and infection rates. Lung transplantation, using RATG induction therapy, remains an important modality for end-stage pulmonary disease.

Role of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and classic thoracotomy in lung cancer management.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. For patients diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, complete surgical resection remains the best hope for cure. Limited resections are avoided when possible because of higher recurrence rates and potentially worse long-term survival. Traditionally, a posterolateral thoracotomy has been used to perform anatomic lung resections and mediastinal lymph node dissection for complete staging. More recently, the use of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been introduced for the treatment of stage I lung cancers. Although thought minimally invasive and thus perceived as resulting in less postoperative pain and faster recovery, its acceptance has varied worldwide. Questions about training, cost containment, and oncologic principles prevail. In essence, the absolute indications and limitations of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for patients with lung cancer have yet to be defined.