Thoracic organ transplantation

This article presents an overview of factors associated with thoracic transplantation outcomes over the past decade and provides valuable information regarding the heart, lung, and heart-lung waiting lists and thoracic organ transplant recipients. Waiting list and post-transplant information is used to assess the importance of patient demographics, risk factors, and primary cardiopulmonary disease on outcomes. The time that the typical listed patient has been waiting for a heart, lung, or heart-lung transplant has markedly increased over the past decade, while the number of transplants performed has declined slightly and survival after transplant has plateaued. Waiting list mortality, however, appears to be declining for each organ and for most diseases and high-severity subgroups, perhaps in response to recent changes in organ allocation algorithms. Based on perceived inequity in organ access and in response to a mandate from Health Resources and Services Administration, the lung transplant community is developing a lung allocation system designed to minimize deaths on the waiting list while maximizing the benefit of transplant by incorporating post-transplant survival and quality of life into the algorithm. Areas where improved data collection could inform evolving organ allocation and candidate selection policies are emphasized.

Phrenic nerve dysfunction after heart-lung and lung transplantation

BACKGROUND

Phrenic nerve dysfunction (PND) is a well-known complication after cardiac surgery, but reports on its incidence and consequences after heart-lung and lung transplantation are scarce.

METHODS

The incidence and consequences (ventilator days and intensive-care unit length of stay [ICU LOS]) of PND were studied by retrospective chart review of 27 heart-lung (HLTx) and 111 lung (LTx) transplantations performed from July 1991 to June 2001 at the Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium. On clinical suspicion of diaphragmatic dysfunction, nerve conduction studies were performed, which were completed with a needle electromyogram (EMG) of the diaphragm when the conduction study was non-conclusive.

RESULTS

The incidence of PND in 21 evaluable HLTx recipients was 42.8% (9 of 21 patients), resulting in significantly more ventilator days for PND patients (37.6 +/- 36.3 days vs 5.3 +/- 3 days; p < 0.05) and a prolonged ICU LOS (46.8 +/- 33 vs 9.8 +/- 4.9 days; p < 0.05). In the 97 evaluable LTx patients, 9.3% (9 of 97 patients) developed PND. This resulted in more ventilator days for the PND group (30.6 +/- 14.8 days vs non-PND 7.9 +/- 14.8 days. p < 0.05) and a longer ICU LOS (PND 37.8 +/- 18.7 days vs non-PND 12.1 +/- 17.8 p < 0.05). Needle EMG of the diaphragm revealed denervation in 1 HLTx and 5 LTx patients. In LTx patients sustaining PND more tracheostomies were performed (44.4% vs 4.5% for non-PND patients p < 0.005). Eight of 9 LTx patients with PND had sequential single-lung transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

PND represents an important clinical problem after HLTx and LTx and has a considerable influence on both number of ventilator days and ICU resource utilization.

[Lung and heart-lung transplantation in Rabin medical center: early experience with 70 cases]

Lung transplantation is a relatively new field in solid organ transplantation. We present our early experience with the first 70 cases at the Rabin Medical Center during the years 1997-2003. Forty seven patients underwent single lung, eight double lung and eight heart-lung transplantations. The patients treated included 49 men and 21 women aged 5-66 years. There were 26 cases with emphysema COPD. 30 patients with pulmonary fibrosis. 5 patients with pulmonary hypertension/Eisenmenger and 9 patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. Although early results (1997-1999) showed 1 and 3 year survival of only 50%, in the last 3 years (2000-2003), survival reached 84% and 82% at 1 and 3 years respectively. Improvement in the success rate is due to better patient selection, new immunosuppressive regimen and, most importantly, excellent teamwork. We conclude that lung transplantation is a viable option for selected patients with end-stage lung disease.

Thoracic organ transplantation in the US

Based on data reported to the United Network for Organ Sharing through December 2001: 1. The number of heart transplant procedures performed in the United States increased slightly (< 1%) during each of the last 2 complete years from 2,187 transplants during 1999 to 2,197 transplants during 2000, followed by an additional increase in 2001 to 2,202 transplants. A more substantial increase was seen in the number of lung transplants performed: from 890 transplants in 1999 to 956 in 2000 (+7%) and an additional increase to 1,053 transplants in 2001 (+10%). Fewer than 30 heart-lung transplants were performed in 2001. Living-donor lung transplants comprised 2-3% of lung transplants performed between 1995-2001. 2. Pediatric recipients were more frequently on life support in the ICU; more likely to have an ischemia time of at least 4 hours; more often gender mismatched; and more often ABO-compatible rather than ABO-identical with the donor than adult recipients for all thoracic organ types. 3. The most common indication for transplant since 1996 in adult heart recipients was coronary artery disease (50%), followed closely by cardiomyopathy (42%). Among pediatric heart recipients, the 2 most common indications: cardiomyopathy (46%) and congenital heart disease (43%) accounted for approximately 90% of the transplants. The indications for lung transplants were more disparate. In adult lung recipients, the 4 most common diagnoses (COPD - 42%, IPF - 17%, CF - 15% and A1A - 9%) encompassed more than 80% of the transplants. More than half of the pediatric lung transplants were performed in recipients with CF. The 3 most frequently cited indications for adult heart-lung transplant recipients (Eisenmenger's Syndrome, other congenital heart diagnoses and PPH) accounted for greater than 75% of the transplants. 4. Approximately 30-35% of adult heart transplants since 1999 have been performed in patients who were Status 1A. For pediatric transplant recipients, Status 1A comprised 60-70% of the transplants. 5. The one-year survival rate for transplants performed during the first three-quarters of 2001 was 85% for both adult and pediatric heart transplant recipients and 77% for both adult and pediatric recipients of lung transplants. For adult heart-lung transplants performed during 2000, the one-year survival rate was 69%. 6. The long-term patient survival rates were: 39% for adult heart recipients and 50% for pediatric heart recipients at 12 years; 18% at 11 years for adult lung recipients and 31% at 9 years for pediatric lung recipients; and 24% at 11 years for adult heart-lung recipients and 21% at 8 years for pediatric heart-lung recipients. 7. Drug-treated rejection and drug-treated infection were reported to occur before discharge in approximately 20-40% of transplant recipients, with the exception of pediatric lung and heart-lung recipients, with rates varying by organ and age group. Drug-treated infections were reported before discharge in more than 60% of pediatric lung recipients and approximately half of pediatric heart-lung recipients. 8. Approximately 60% of adult heart recipients and 70% of pediatric heart recipients were hospitalized at least once during the first 3 years following their transplant.

Lung and heart-lung transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh: 1982-2002

The University of Pittsburgh lung transplantation program began in 1982 and through 2002 we have performed 576 lung and 101 heart-lung transplants. One-, 3- and 5-year survival rates over the past decade have been 77%, 62% and 55%, respectively, comparing favorably to ISHLT registry outcomes of 73%, 57% and 46%. We continue to utilize a very thorough evaluation process but have been flexible and aggressive with potential recipients with regard to age, coronary artery disease and disease state (eg., scleroderma). Despite worldwide progress in the field of lung transplantation, many difficulties remain. The limited number of lungs deemed acceptable for transplantation continues to hinder application to a greater number of patients. Our efforts in this regard have focused on cooperation with our OPO in education and detailed donor management protocols. Chronic rejection also remains a major difficulty frequently leading to death. Recent work utilizing aerosol cyclosporine in patients with established chronic rejection suggests that this therapy may prolong life. We are also hopeful that recently initiated therapies utilizing T-cell induction strategies may contribute to further improvement in outcomes.

Cardiopulmonary transplantation: experience of a lung transplant group

Cardiopulmonary transplantation (CPT) is indicated for patients eligible for heart transplantation (HT) or lung transplantation (LT) who have severe concomitant lung or heart disease. Only 2 groups perform CPT in Spain. We report our experience with 18 CPTs representing 8.2% and 5% compared with LT (220) and HT (362), respectively, from February 13, 1990 to October 15, 2002. The mean time on a waiting list was 138 days. The current number of surviving patients is 7 (39%), with a mean follow-up of 602 days (range, 3 to 4627 days). They all remain asymptomatic with normal respiratory function in 4 patients. No cardiac graft rejection has been detected. Two patients experienced sustained gastroparesis during the first year with spontaneous resolution. Death occurred within the first 3 months in 9 patients. These outcomes contrast with the early mortality associated with LT and HT in our series, namely 10.6% and 11%, respectively. The different causes of death were as follows: sepsis and multiorgan failure in 5 patients, hemorrhagic shock in 3 patients, and suture dehiscence and fungal aortic perforation in 1 patient. Late mortalities were recorded in 2 cases. Overall patient survival in our series is lower than that reported by the International Registry (IR), with an early mortality rate of 50% (30% IR). Nevertheless, our survival rate at 10 years after transplantation is 30% (26% IR). We conclude that CPT should be considered despite the greater early morbidity and mortality.

Lung and heart-lung transplant practice patterns in pulmonary hypertension centers

BACKGROUND

Transplant practice patterns for pulmonary hypertension in the epoprostenol era are unknown.

METHODS

Thirty-five centers in North America, Europe, and Israel were surveyed regarding practice patterns for lung and heart-lung transplant.

RESULTS

New York Heart Association class and distance on a 6-minute walk were considered most useful for deciding who to refer for listing. Patients with New York Heart Association class I to II were referred for listing in 26% of centers, while 57% were classified as New York Heart Association class III or greater after epoprostenol failure. Twenty-nine of the 35 centers had transplant programs that performed approximately 75% of the International Registry volume annually. A double lung transplant was preferred by 83% of centers and heart-lung transplant in the remaining centers. The wait time for lung transplant averaged 16.8 months (range 4-36) and for heart-lung transplant averaged 21.3 months (range 6-36) and was significantly longer in the United States. The mean maximum age for heart-lung transplant was 51.4 years (range 35-65), double lung transplant 58.3 years (range 45-65), and single lung transplant 63.1 years (range 50-70). Fifty-three percent of centers transplant New York Heart Association class III or IV patients, 26% class IIIb-IV, and 21% only class IV. Eighty percent of centers use a transplant hold status. Major unqualified exclusions were hepatitis in 38%, 1 or more hepatic (90%) or renal (100%) criteria, smoking 97%, and obesity in 93%.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians and patients should be aware of the considerable variability in practice patterns for transplantation in pulmonary hypertension, despite published guidelines.

Clinical cardiac and pulmonary transplantation: the Hannover experience

Thoracic organ transplantation has evolved from an experimental to a standard treatment modality for patients suffering from end-stage heart and lung failure. Based on our experience after 1,033 heart, lung, and heart-lung transplantation procedures performed at the Hannover Thoracic Organ Transplant Program, we report: 1. Survival rates following thoracic organ transplants were similar and ranged from 76-81% after one year. 2. The one-, 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates for heart transplant recipients were 81%, 70%, 52% and 33%, respectively. 3. The 9-year survival rate for bilateral-lung transplant recipients (56%) was significantly better than that for single-lung recipients (36%, p < 0.05). 4. Heart-lung recipients had the poorest long-term survival rate in our program--18% surviving after 9 years. 5. Retransplantation has been an effective treatment for chronic graft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients, but was less successful when used to treat acute graft failure. The one-year regraft survival rate was 74% among 15 patients retransplanted for chronic graft failure compared with only 50% for 4 patients retransplanted for acute failure.

Worldwide thoracic organ transplantation: a report from the UNOS/ISHLT International Registry for Thoracic Organ Transplantation

Based on data reported to the UNOS/ISHLT International Registry for Thoracic Organ Transplantation, we showed that: 1. The number of heart transplant operations performed in the United States has decreased by 164 procedures between 1998 (2,346) and 1999 (2,182). The number of lung transplants increased by 13 in 1999 to 877. 2. The most frequently reported indication for heart transplantation in the US is coronary artery disease (44.8%). For other thoracic transplants, the most frequently reported indications include cystic fibrosis (35.5%) for double lung, emphysema/COPD (49.7%) for single lung and congenital heart disease (46.6%) for heart-lung. The most frequently reported diagnoses for thoracic transplantation outside the US include cardiomyopathy (43.8%) for heart, cystic fibrosis (33.4%) for double-lung, emphysema/COPD (26.6%) for single-lung and primary pulmonary hypertension (24.8%) for heart-lung transplants. 3. US heart transplant recipients are predominately male (76.7%), between 50 and 64 years of age (51.3%) and white (81.4%). US lung transplant recipients are also predominately between 50 and 64 years of age (44.7%) and white (89.9%), but unlike heart recipients are more likely to be female (51.2%). No meaningful variance from the US recipient demographic profile is noted for the non-US recipients during the same time period. 4. Pediatric recipients (< 18 years of age) received 10.9% of the reported heart transplants and 6.2% of reported lung transplants. 5. One-year survival for thoracic transplants performed in the US is 82.4% for heart, 74.1% for lung and 62.0% for heart-lung. Five-year survival for US thoracic transplants is 66.8% for heart and 43.2% for lung. 6. Long-term patient survival rates are: 22.5% at 17 years for heart, 20.8% at 10 years for lung and 24.3% at 13 years for heart-lung recipients. 7. The most important risk factor for mortality of US heart recipients at one month, one year and conditionally at 5 years after transplantation was receipt of a previous heart transplant. Significant short-term risk factors include donor age, recipient age and ischemic time. Substantial long-term risk factors include older donor age, recipient age, recipient race and diagnosis. 8. The factors having the most significant impact on lung mortality at all time points are related to either the patient's medical condition (e.g., in the ICU prior to transplant, requiring mechanical ventilation) or diagnosis. 9. Mechanical ventilation, recipient race and recipient age have the largest impact on heart-lung mortality. 10. For heart and lung recipients, the major cause of hospitalization during the first year after transplantation is infection alone.

Where are we today with pulmonary transplantation? Current results from a national cohort. UK Cardiothoracic Transplant Audit Steering Group

Lung transplantation is now an accepted therapy for the treatment of end-stage lung disease. This paper presents some current results of lung transplantation as determined from a validated national database.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after kidney or heart transplantation: frequency of occurrence during the first posttransplant year

The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was analysed in over 70,000 kidney transplant recipients and over 10,000 heart, heart-lung or lung transplant recipients. An increased incidence of lymphomas during the first posttransplant year was observed in cadaver kidney recipients as compared to related kidney recipients, in thoracic organ recipients as compared to kidney recipients, in heart-lung recipients as compared to heart or lung recipients, in patients transplanted in North America as compared to patients transplanted in Europe, in patients receiving cyclosporine in combination with azathioprine as compared to patients with other immunosuppressive regimens, and in patients receiving ATG/ALG or monoclonal OKT3 for rejection prophylaxis.

Paediatric incidence of acute rejection and obliterative bronchiolitis: a comparison with adults

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality following heart-lung transplantation. We compared the incidence of death from obliterative bronchiolitis in 19 children and 72 adults following heart-lung transplantation at our institutes. The incidence of death from OB at 2 years was 38% for children compared with 17% for adults, this difference was significant (Cox-Mantel Z value = 2.243, P < 0.05). The frequency of acute lung rejection and persistent lung rejection, previously described as risk factors for OB in adults, were significantly more common in children, P = 0.004 and P = 0.001, respectively. Average forced expiratory volume in 1 s was lower in children than in adults for each 3-month period after transplantation (P < 0.001). In conclusion, identified risk factors for the development of OB were more common, and the risk of death from OB was greater in children than in adults following heart-lung transplantation.

Thoracic organ transplantation at Papworth Hospital

More than 1,200 patients have now undergone thoracic transplantation at Papworth Hospital and about 90 transplants are performed annually. Papworth remains one of the largest transplant units in the UK. Unique activities include a very large heart-lung transplant program: 247 patients have now undergone heart-lung transplants and 73 domino heart transplants have been performed. The 5-year survival rates are 71% for heart transplants, 48% for heart-lung and 41% for lung transplants, respectively. Chronic obliterative bronchiolitis remains an important limitation for heart-lung and lung transplant survival.

Lung transplantation at Loyola University Medical Center

The Loyola Lung Transplant Program shows a long record of offering transplants to suitable recipients, with good clinical results. The overall one-year survival rate was 84% for 53 lung transplant recipients in 1998-99. Our local perception on donor management appears to be successful at increasing donor organ availability. In addition, continuous evolution in posttransplant care and willingness to utilize newer immunosuppressive agents has reduced our incidence of acute rejection episodes to 23% during the past 2 years. Time will tell if there is also a measurable reduction in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Finally, longitudinal research on QOL after lung transplantation continues to buoy our spirits based on patient acceptance and satisfaction with results. We continue to be strong advocates for transplantation and organ donation.

Worldwide thoracic organ transplantation: a report from the UNOS/ISHLT International Registry for Thoracic Organ Transplantation

1. The number of heart transplant operations performed in the US has increased by 51 procedures between 1997 (2,294) and 1998 (2,345). The number of lung transplants decreased by 67 in 1998 (862). 2. The most frequently reported indication for heart transplantation in the US is coronary artery disease (44.6%). For other thoracic transplants, the most frequently reported indications include other/unknown (43.9%) for double lung, emphysema/COPD (53.5%) for single lung and other/unknown (53.2%) for heart-lung. The most frequently reported diagnoses for thoracic transplantation outside the US include cardiomyopathy (50.5%) for heart, cystic fibrosis (32.0%) for double lung, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (32.7%) for single lung and congenital heart disease (24.7%) for heart-lung. 3. US heart transplant recipients were predominately male (77%), between 50-64 years old (51.4%) and White (81.7%). In contrast, US lung transplant recipients are predominantly female (51.3%), between 50-64 years of age (44.7%) and White (89.7%). No meaningful variance from the US recipient demographic profile was noted for the non-US recipients during the same time period. 4. Pediatric recipients (< 18 years of age) received 10.9% of the reported heart transplants and 6.5% of reported lung transplants. 5. One-year survival for thoracic transplants performed in the US was 83.2% for heart, 70.6% for lung and 62.5%. Five-year survival for US thoracic transplants was 70% for heart and 49.1% for lung. 6. Long-term patient survival rates were: 22.3% at 18 years for heart, 20% at 9 years for lung and 25% at 12 years for heart-lung recipients. 7. The most important risk factor for mortality of US heart recipients at one month, one and 5 years after transplantation was receipt of a previous heart transplant. Significant short-term risk factors included donor age, recipient age and ischemic time. Substantial long-term risk factors include older donor age, donor race and recipient race. 8. The factors having the most significant impact on lung mortality at all time points were related to either the patient's medical condition (e.g., in the ICU prior to transplant, requiring mechanical ventilation) or diagnosis. 9. Mechanical ventilation and previous transplant had the largest impact on heart-lung mortality. 10. For heart and lung recipients, the major cause of hospitalization during the first posttransplant year was infection.