Preliminary report of the safety and efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for specific complications of lung transplantation

Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers: Potential Applications in Solid Organ Preservation

Ameliorating graft injury induced by ischemia and hypoxia, expanding the donor pool, and improving graft quality and recipient prognosis are still goals pursued by the transplant community. The preservation of organs during this process from donor to recipient is critical to the prognosis of both the graft and the recipient. At present, static cold storage, which is most widely used in clinical practice, not only reduces cell metabolism and oxygen demand through low temperature but also prevents cell edema and resists apoptosis through the application of traditional preservation solutions, but these do not improve hypoxia and increase oxygenation of the donor organ. In recent years, improving the ischemia and hypoxia of grafts during preservation and repairing the quality of marginal donor organs have been of great concern. Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) are “made of” natural hemoglobins that were originally developed as blood substitutes but have been extended to a variety of hypoxic clinical situations due to their ability to release oxygen. Compared with traditional preservation protocols, the addition of HBOCs to traditional preservation protocols provides more oxygen to organs to meet their energy metabolic needs, prolong preservation time, reduce ischemia–reperfusion injury to grafts, improve graft quality, and even increase the number of transplantable donors. The focus of the present study was to review the potential applications of HBOCs in solid organ preservation and provide new approaches to understanding the mechanism of the promising strategies for organ preservation.

Management of Multidrug Resistant Infections in Lung Transplant Recipients with Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited multisystem disease characterised by bronchiectasis and chronic respiratory infections which eventually cause end stage lung disease. Lung transplantation (LTx) is a well-established treatment option for patients with CF-associated lung disease, improving survival and quality of life. Navigating recurrent infections in the setting of LTx is often difficult, where immune suppression must be balanced against the constant threat of infection. Sepsis/infections are one of the major contributors to post-LTx mortality and multiresistant organisms (eg, Burkholderia cepacia complex, Mycobacterium abscessus complex, Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora spp.) pose a significant threat to survival. This review will summarize current and novel therapies to assist with the management of multiresistant bacterial, mycobacterial, viral and fungal infections which threaten the CF LTx cohort.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to prevent central airway stenosis after lung transplantation

BACKGROUND

Central airway stenosis (CAS) is a severe airway complication after lung transplantation associated with bronchial ischemia and necrosis. We sought to determine whether hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), an established treatment for tissue ischemia, attenuates post-transplant bronchial injury.

METHODS

We performed a randomized, controlled trial comparing usual care with HBOT (2 atm absolute for 2 hours × 20 sessions) in subjects with extensive airway necrosis 4 weeks after transplantation. Endobronchial biopsies were collected at 4, 7, and 10 weeks after transplantation for a quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Coprimary outcomes were incidence of airway stenting and acute cellular rejection (ACR) at 1 year.

RESULTS

The trial was stopped after enrolling 20 subjects (n = 10 per group) after a pre-planned interim analysis showed no difference between usual care and HBOT groups in stenting (both 40%), ACR (70% and 40%, respectively), or CAS (40% and 60%, respectively). Time to first stent placement (median [interquartile range]) was significantly shorter in the HBOT group (150 [73-150] vs 186 [167-206] days, p < 0.05). HIF gene expression was significantly increased in donor tissues at 4, 7, and 10 weeks after transplantation but was not altered by HBOT. Subjects who developed CAS or required stenting had significantly higher HMOX1 and VEGFA expression at 4 weeks (both p < 0.05). Subjects who developed ACR had significant FLT1, TIE2, and KDR expression at 4 weeks (all p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Incidence of CAS is high after severe, established airway necrosis after transplantation. HBOT does not reduce CAS severity or stenting. Elevated HMOX1 and VEGFA expressions appear to associate with airway complications.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for postoperative ischemic bronchitis after resection of lung cancer

Background

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been used successfully in the treatment of specific ischemic injuries, but has been a little evaluated specifically in postoperative ischemic bronchitis (POIB). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of HBOT when used for POIB after resection of lung cancer.

Methods

From January 1999 to December 2016, 1,100 patients underwent lymph node dissection (LND) and either anatomic pulmonary resection or lung resection with bronchoplasty for lung cancer. POIB was diagnosed by bronchoscopy. HBOT was administered after POIB was diagnosed. HBOT comprised one 60-minute session daily in the hyperbaric chamber at 2.0 absolute atmospheres with 100% oxygen. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical course, timing of onset of POIB, outcomes, and any adverse events.

Results

Seven patients were identified to have had POIB treated with HBOT, all of whom were men with a smoking history and a median age of 65 years (range, 57-72 years). The operative procedures included three lung resections with bronchoplasty, three right lower lobectomies, and one right middle lobectomy performed owing to torsion of the middle lobe after right upper sleeve lobectomy. All 7 patients underwent subcarinal LND. POIB was diagnosed at a median of 11 days (range, 4-41 days) postoperatively. The median duration of an HBOT session was 7 days (range, 3-11 days). POIB resolved in 5 patients but worsened in 2, both of whom required further surgery.

Conclusions

Prospective clinical trials are now needed to confirm the potential benefits of HBOT in POIB.

A successful aggressive surgical and medical approach to pulmonary artery obstruction due to Mycobacterium abscessus infection post lung transplantation

Mycobacterium abscessus infection following lung transplantation has historically been associated with poor outcomes. We report a case of bilateral lung retransplantation complicated by obstruction of the right pulmonary artery secondary to M. abscessus mycotic aneurysm. Aggressive surgical management, including reconstruction of the right pulmonary artery, was undertaken with prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Thirty-six months later, antibiotics have been discontinued and the patient has stable soft tissue chest wall disease with good graft function. Mortality and morbidity associated with M. abscessus infection is considerable but this case illustrates that with aggressive early management, outcomes may be favorable.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as additional treatment in deep sternal wound infections - a single center's experience

INTRODUCTION

Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is one of the most serious complications after cardiac surgery procedures, observed in 5% of patients. Current standard medical therapy for DSWI includes antibiotics, surgical debridement, resuturing or negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Unfortunately, in some cases these methods are insufficient, and additional therapeutic options are needed.

AIM

To assess the effects and usefulness of additional hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO2) in patients with DSWI after cardiac surgery procedures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 10 patients after cardiac surgery who developed DSWI in the period 2010-2012 was performed. After 3 months of ineffective conventional therapy including targeted antibiotic, surgical sternal debridement and NPWT, patients were qualified for additional HBO2 therapy. A total of 20 sessions of HBO2 therapy were performed, each 92 minutes long.

RESULTS

After 4 weeks of HBO2 treatment, 7 patients presented complete wound healing with fibrous scar formation. One patient was qualified for the another cycle of HBO2 therapy with 20 additional sessions, and complete wound healing was observed. In 2 cases, after 5 and 19 sessions, HBO2 was interrupted because of improper qualifications.

CONCLUSIONS

The HBO2 as an additional therapy in DSWI was successful in 80% of cases, and no complications were observed. However, due to the small number of published studies with a small number of patients, randomized, clinical trials are needed to assess the clinical results of HBO2 in DSWI after cardiac surgery procedures.

Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Perioperative Patient Management of Lung Transplantation Surgery

Lung transplantation is the only option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Chronic obstructive lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and primary pulmonary hypertension are few common indications for lung transplantation. Patients with end-stage lung disease may have pre-existing cardiovascular compromise related to pulmonary hypertension and other cardiovascular lesions, such as coronary artery disease or valvular heart disease. Preoperative evaluation and optimization of hemodynamics is expected to improve outcomes from lung transplantation. Intraoperative hemodynamic instability is common during lung transplantation and requires highest level of cardiovascular monitoring. After transplantation, vascular anastomosis should be evaluated for flow patterns to rule out obstruction from stenosis or thrombosis. Postoperative complications are common and include bleeding, cardiac failure and hypoxemia from right to left shunt. Primary graft dysfunction may necessitate mechanical cardiorespiratory support. Transesophageal echocardiography plays a central role in preoperative evaluation, intraoperative hemodynamic management, evaluation of pulmonary vascular anastomosis, diagnosis of postoperative complications and also in the critical care management of mechanical cardiorespiratory support.

How to cite this article

Subramaniam K, Esper SA. Role of Transesophageal Echocardiography in Perioperative Patient Management of Lung Transplantation Surgery. J Perioper Echocardiogr 2013;1(2):48-56.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunctive treatment for sternal infection and osteomyelitis after sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery

Purpose

A retrospective study to evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy on sternal infection and osteomyelitis following median sternotomy.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of patients who received sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery which developed sternal infection and osteomyelitis between 2002 and 2009. Twelve patients who received debridement and antibiotic treatment were selected, and six of them received additional HBO2 therapy. Demographic, clinical characteristics and outcome were compared between patients with and without HBO2 therapy.

Results

HBO2 therapy did not cause any treatment-related complication in patients receiving this additional treatment. Comparisons of the data between two study groups revealed that the length of stay in ICU (8.7 ± 2.7 days vs. 48.8 ± 10.5 days, p < 0.05), duration of invasive (4 ± 1.5 days vs. 34.8 ± 8.3 days, p < 0.05) and non-invasive (4 ± 1.9 days vs. 22.3 ± 6.2 days, p < 0.05) positive pressure ventilation were all significantly lower in patients with additional HBO2 therapy, as compared to patients without HBO2 therapy. Hospital mortality was also significantly lower in patients who received HBO2 therapy (0 case vs. 3 cases, p < 0.05), as compared to patients without the HBO2 therapy.

Conclusions

In addition to primary treatment with debridement and antibiotic use, HBO2 therapy may be used as an adjunctive and safe treatment to improve clinical outcomes in patients with sternal infection and osteomyelitis after sternotomy and cardiothoracic surgery.