Perioperative care of the lung transplant patient

Anesthetic management of lung transplantation: Results from a multicenter, cross-sectional survey by the society for advancement of transplant anesthesia

BACKGROUND

Current protocols for the perioperative care of lung transplant (LTX) recipients lack rigorous evidence and are often empiric, based upon institutional preferences. We surveyed LTX anesthesiologists to determine the most common practices.

METHODS

We developed a survey of 40 questions regarding perioperative care of LTX recipients using Qualtrics software. The survey was sent out to members of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists performing LTX at geographically diverse sites to facilitate data collection for as many practices as possible.

RESULTS

The responses were center-weighed (127 responses, 85% from academic settings). The clamshell approach was commonly used (70%). Cardiopulmonary bypass was preferred by 56%, ex vivo lung perfusion utilized by 43%, and 49.4% indicated they use lungs from donation after circulatory determination of death. Most (69%) used oximetric pulmonary artery catheters, 60% used tissue oximetry, and 89.3% utilized transesophageal echocardiography. Inhaled nitric oxide was preferred by 48%, restrictive fluid management by 48%, and systemic analgesia advocated by 49% of participants. Inspired oxygen concentration <30% was applied to the new lung on reperfusion by 28% of the respondents.

CONCLUSION

Variations in healthcare delivery and utilization for LTX recipients indicate gaps in knowledge and potential opportunities to improve the quality of care.

Cough reflex in lung transplant recipients

Lung transplantation has become the standard of care for particular individuals with advanced lung disease. However, this surgical procedure involves interruption of the lower vagal nerve fibers which leads to loss of the protective cough reflex. Injury of the neural pathways involved with the sensory limb of the cough reflex is associated with an increased risk of complications involving the allograft. While loss of the cough reflex was once considered permanent, recent evidence indicates functional and structural restoration is a time-dependent process that occurs 6-12 months after lung transplantation. The implication that the cough reflex may be reestablished in lung transplant recipients provides insight into the dynamic response to airway neural injury that may lead to improvements in allograft tissue repair.

Perioperative antibiotics in thoracic surgery

No official guidelines exist for perioperative antibiotic use in noncardiac thoracic surgery. Despite some conflicting data and few randomized clinical trials there exists strong evidence supporting the use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in pulmonary resection. This article discusses the evidence-based indications for antibiotic prophylaxis after lung resection, esophageal surgery, and lung transplantation.