Development of a non-heart-beating donor program and results after the first year

Abstract

Our lung transplant unit began activity in October 2008. We have performed 37 lung transplants with a hospital mortality of 2.7% (n = 1). The need for a greater number of donors and the presence of an already existent non-heart-beating donor (NHBD) program for abdominal grafts and tissues encouraged us to consider assessing lung grafts from these donors. It was necessary to develop a new multiorgan preservation methodology, "bithermia preservation." The clinical experience with which during the first year June 2010 to July 2011, including 15 NHBDs is presented herein. The chest x-ray was normal in 6 donors (40%) and 7 had pulmonary infiltrates. Bronchoscopy was normal in 8 donors (53%) but 3 had abundant bleeding airway secretions and signs of bronchoaspiration. Preservation procedures were performed in 6 donors. Pulmonary functional evaluation in 4 donors showed gas measurements to be adequate in 75% of cases. Three double-lung grafts were judged to be valid for implantation, among which we performed 3 lung transplantations, 1 bilateral and 2 unilaterals, while 2 grafts were offered to the National Transplant Organization for other units. No transplant suffered primary graft dysfunction; all 3 showed excellent function allowing early extubation in 2 cases. There was no in-hospital mortality. All 3 patients are alive and leading normal lives; none has bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. In conclusion, the "bithermia preservation" methodology achieved adequate lung preservation in NHBDs, allowing liver, kidneys, and lungs to be obtained from the same donor.