OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between postoperative driving pressure (DP) and the prognosis of lung transplantation, and to further evaluate the value of early DP monitoring in lung transplantation. METHODS: A observational study was conducted. The patients after lung transplantation who admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Wuxi People's Hospital from February 1, 2022 to February 1, 2023 were collected. They were divided into low DP group (DP≤15 cmH₂O, 1 cmH₂O ≈ 0.098 kPa) and high DP group (DP > 15 cmH₂O) according to DP within 2 hours after operation. The clinical data including general information, primary disease, chronic diseases, cardiopulmonary function, laboratory indicators, intraoperative condition, postoperative lactic acid (Lac) and ventilator parameters were collected. Primary outcomes included 28-day and 90-day survival, and secondary outcomes included occurrence of primary graft dysfunction (PGD), duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), duration of mechanical ventilation, weaning of mechanical ventilation, and length of ICU stay. The general data and observations between the two groups were compared. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was conducted to analyze the situation of mechanical ventilation and 90-day survival. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive ability of DP for failed weaning of mechanical ventilation and 90-day death. The dose-response relationship between DP and 90-day death risk was determined by restricted cubic spline model. Univariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were enrolled, with 68 patients (67.3%) in the low DP group and 33 patients (32.7%) in the high DP group. No statistically significant difference in general information, chronic diseases, primary diseases, cardiopulmonary function, laboratory indicators, intraoperative conditions, and postoperative Lac between the two groups was found. Compared with the low DP group, the patients in the high DP group had higher inspiratory pressure (Pinsp) and incidence of PGD with grade 3 at 24 hours after operation [Pinsp (cmH₂O): 21.0±0.6 vs. 20.0±0.7, PGD with grade 3 at 24 hours: 60.6% (20/33) vs. 39.7% (27/68), both P < 0.05], longer duration of ECMO, duration of mechanical ventilation, and the length of ICU stay [duration of ECMO (hours): 37 (21, 109) vs. 22 (14, 43), duration of mechanical ventilation (days): 3.1 (1.8, 10.7) vs. 1.9 (1.1, 3.2), length of ICU stay (days): 6 (3, 13) vs. 4 (3, 5), all P < 0.05], and lower successful weaning rate of mechanical ventilation [81.8% (27/33) vs. 95.6% (65/68), P < 0.05). The 28-day and 90-day survival rates in the high DP group were significantly higher than those in the low DP group [28-day: 69.7% (23/33) vs. 86.8% (59/68), 90-day: 63.6% (21/33) vs. 83.8% (57/68), both P < 0.05]. Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the patients in the low DP group were weaned and extubated earlier than high DP group, and the cumulative situation of weaning was better (Log-Rank test: χ ² = 14.054, P < 0.001), and the 90-day cumulative survival rate in the low DP group was significantly higher than that in the high DP group (Log-Rank test: χ ² = 4.791, P = 0.029). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of DP for predicting 90-day death was 0.664 [95% confidence internal (95%CI) was 0.540-0.787, P = 0.017], and the AUC for predicting failed weaning of mechanical ventilation was 0.794 (95%CI was 0.667-0.921, P = 0.004). Results of restricted cubic spline model analysis showed that the 90-day death risk continued to increase with the DP < 18 cmH₂O; when DP≥18 cmH₂O, elevated DP did not continue to increase the 90-day death risk, showing a plateau effect. Univariate analysis showed that DP was independent risk factors of 90-day death, and the death risk increased by 9.3% for every 1 cmH₂O increase in DP [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.093, 95%CI was 1.007-1.186, P = 0.033]. CONCLUSIONS DP is an independent risk factor of death after lung transplantation, and early postoperative DP may be used as a predictor of failed weaning of mechanical ventilation and 90-day death after lung transplantation.
Humans ; Lung Transplantation ; Prognosis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Intensive Care Units ; Postoperative Period ; Pressure ; Primary Graft Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Transplant Recipients ; Female ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Male ; ROC Curve ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: Post-operative pulmonary function is an important prognostic factor for lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting recovery of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at the first year after lung transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of lung transplantation patients between October 2012 and June 2016. Patients who survived for longer than one year and who underwent pulmonary function test at the first year of lung transplantation were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they recovered to a normal range of FEV1 (FEV1 ≥80% of predicted value vs. < 80%). We compared the two groups and analyzed factors associated with lung function recovery. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled in this study: 28 patients (48%) recovered to a FEV1 ≥80% of the predicted value, whereas 30 patients (52%) did not. Younger recipients [odds ratio (OR), 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.87–0.98; p=0.010], longer duration of mechanical ventilator use after surgery (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.03–1.26; p=0.015), and high-grade primary graft dysfunction (OR, 8.08; 95% CI, 1.67–39.18; p=0.009) were identified as independent risk factors associated with a lack of full recovery of lung function at 1 year after lung transplantation. CONCLUSION: Immediate postoperative status may be associated with recovery of lung function after lung transplantation.
Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Lung Transplantation* ; Lung* ; Medical Records ; Primary Graft Dysfunction ; Recovery of Function* ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the safety and efficacy of percutaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with primary graft dysfunction after heart transplantation. METHODS: Of 65 patients (44 males and 21 females) who underwent heart transplantation from January 2006 to December 2012, 13 patients (group I) needed peripheral ECMO support due to difficulty in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 52 patients (group II) were weaned from CPB without mechanical support. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 54.4+/-13.6 years. There were no differences in the preoperative characteristics of the two groups. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for ECMO therapy. RESULTS: All group I patients were successfully weaned from ECMO after 53+/-9 hours of circulatory support. Early mortality occurred in four patients (1 [7.7%] in group I and 3 [5.8%] in group II, p>0.999). There were no differences in the postoperative complications between the two groups, with the exception of reoperation for bleeding. A greater number of group I patients underwent reoperation for bleeding (5 [38.5%] in group I vs. 6 [11.5%] in group II, p=0.035). In multivariable analysis, preoperative mechanical support (ECMO and intra-aortic balloon pump) and longer CPB time were the risk factors of ECMO therapy for graft dysfunction (odds ratio, 6.377; 95% confidence interval, 1.519 to 26.77; p=0.011 and odds ratio, 1.010; 95% confidence interval, 1.001 to 1.019; p=0.033). CONCLUSION: Percutaneous ECMO support could be a viable option for rescuing patients when graft dysfunction refractory to medical management develops after heart transplantation.
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Extracorporeal Circulation ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Heart Transplantation* ; Heart* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Postoperative Complications ; Primary Graft Dysfunction ; Reoperation ; Risk Factors ; Transplants* ; Weaning

Multivisceral organ transplantation involves the transplantation of three or more abdominal organs, including small bowel, duodenum, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, and so on. The large amounts of cold and acidic loading into systemic circulation from the graft during multivisceral organ transplantation may result in severe post-reperfusion syndrome (PRS). We describe here a 6-year-old pediatric patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction who experienced prolonged PRS and severe metabolic acidosis during seven abdominal organ transplantation including the liver, spleen, stomach, duodenum, small bowel, colon and pancreas. The hypotensive period lasted approximately 10 minutes after graft reperfusion and was accompanied by severe metabolic acidosis and hypothermia. Since PRS can be easily associated with adverse outcomes, such as poor early graft function and primary non-function, not only meticulous surveillance for aggravating factors for PRS but also their immediate correction were necessary in managing a pediatric patient undergoing multivisceral organ transplantation.
Acidosis ; Child ; Colon ; Duodenum ; Humans ; Hypothermia ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Intestines ; Liver ; Organ Transplantation* ; Pancreas ; Primary Graft Dysfunction ; Reperfusion ; Spleen ; Stomach ; Transplantation ; Transplants*

Liver biopsies are used routinely in the assessment of graft dysfunction following liver transplantation and generally considered to be the most reliable method for the diagnosis of posttransplant complications with overlapping clinical and laboratory findings. To investigate posttransplant complications causing graft dysfunction and usefulness of liver biopsy, we analysed clinicopathologic features of 65 posttransplant liver biopsies, 2 autopsies and an explanted liver, taken from 20 patients. The frequencies of posttransplant complications were acute cellular rejection in 9 patients (45%), postoperative infection in 11 patients (55%), of which cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and systemic invasive aspergillosis with candidiasis occured in 10 patients (50%) and 1 patient (5%), respectively. Remainders were hepatic arterial thrombosis in two (10%), primary graft dysfunction due to fatty donor liver in one (5%), and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in two (10%). There were no chronic rejection or recurrent disease. Postoperative mortality was 25%. Histologic grade by Banff schema was well correlated with clinical parameters associated with unfavorable short term prognosis. CMV infection was associated with acute cellular rejection in 6 out of 10 patients (60%). Immunohistochemical staining for CMV was more sensitive method than CMV in situ hybridization or histologic detection of viral inclusion on tissue section. It was unique that one case of PTLD developed under the circumstances of the lowest dosage of immunosuppression and took grave outcome. Based on these results, we concluded that clinicopathologic correlation with integration of all the clinical and laboratory findings is necessary in the interpretation of accurate and early diagnosis of posttransplant liver biopsies. The interrelationship between chronic rejection and CMV infection as well as pathogenetic factors of PTLD remains to be clarified through further ongoing observation.
Aspergillosis ; Autopsy ; Biopsy* ; Candidiasis ; Cytomegalovirus ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; In Situ Hybridization ; Liver Transplantation ; Liver* ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; Mortality ; Primary Graft Dysfunction ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants