Trasplante pulmonar: Evolución y complicaciones. Experiencia de Clínica Las Condes

Abstract

Background: Lung transplantation is a valid treatment for some patients with severe lung disease who have a poor prognosis with medical treatment. Objective: to evaluate the results and complications of lung transplantation in a series of patients at Clinica Las Condes. Patients and methods: 21 lung transplanted patients from April 1999 to May 2003; 10 single and 11 bilateral; mean age 48 years, range 13 to 70 years; 13 men (62%). The most frequent diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (10 patients; 48%). Mean FVC for restrictive disorders was 1 827 ml (43% predicted) and mean FEV1 for obstructive disorders was 818 ml, (24%). All patients were dependant on oxygen. Results: in the first 30 days after transplantation 3 patients died: cerebral hemorrhage (1), massive hemoptisis (1), and sepsis (1). After 30 days an additional patient died from chronic rejection. Overall survival was 15 out of 21 (72%). Follow up: Complications were severe reimplantation response in 2 patients; acute rejection in 4; airway damage in 2; CMV pneumonia in 2 and bronchiolitis obliterans in 3. Conclusions: these results are similar to those reported in international publications and indicate that lung transplantation is a feasible alternative in our country for some patients with a terminal stage lung disease