CASE 7--2014 Rescue therapy with early extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for primary graft dysfunction after bilateral lung transplantation

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 2022 Expert Consensus Document: The use of mechanical circulatory support in lung transplantation

OBJECTIVE

The use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in lung transplantation has been steadily increasing over the prior decade, with evolving strategies for incorporating support in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative settings. There is significant practice variability in the use of these techniques, however, and relatively limited data to help establish institutional protocols. The objective of the AATS Clinical Practice Standards Committee (CPSC) expert panel was to review the existing literature and establish recommendations about the use of MCS before, during, and after lung transplantation.

METHODS

The AATS CPSC assembled an expert panel of 16 lung transplantation physicians who developed a consensus document of recommendations. The panel was broken into subgroups focused on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative support, and each subgroup performed a focused literature review. These subgroups formulated recommendation statements for each subtopic, which were evaluated by the entire group. The statements were then developed via discussion among the panel and refined until consensus was achieved on each statement.

RESULTS

The expert panel achieved consensus on 36 recommendations for how and when to use MCS in lung transplantation. These recommendations included the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridging strategy in the preoperative setting, a preference for central veno-arterial ECMO over traditional cardiopulmonary bypass during the transplantation procedure, and the benefit of supporting selected patients with MCS postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

Achieving optimal results in lung transplantation requires the use of a wide range of strategies. MCS provides an important mechanism for helping these critically ill patients through the peritransplantation period. Despite the complex nature of the decision making process in the treatment of these patients, the expert panel was able to achieve consensus on 36 recommendations. These recommendations should provide guidance for professionals involved in the care of end-stage lung disease patients considered for transplantation.

Increased Extravascular Lung Water and Plasma Biomarkers of Acute Lung Injury Precede Oxygenation Impairment in Primary Graft Dysfunction After Lung Transplantation

BACKGROUND

After lung transplantation (LT), early prediction of grade 3 pulmonary graft dysfunction (PGD) remains a research gap for clinicians. We hypothesized that it could be improved using extravascular lung water (EVLWi) and plasma biomarkers of acute lung injury.

METHODS

After institutional review board approval and informed consent, consecutive LT recipients were included. Transpulmonary thermodilution-based EVLWi, plasma concentrations of epithelial (soluble receptor for advanced glycation endproducts [sRAGE]) and endothelial biomarkers (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endocan [full-length and cleaved p14 fragment]) were obtained before and after LT (0 [H0], 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after pulmonary artery unclamping). Grade 3 PGD was defined according to the International Society for Lung and Heart Transplantation definition, combining arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) ratio and chest X-rays. Association of clinical risk factors, EVLWi and biomarkers with grade 3 PGD was analyzed under the Bayesian paradigm, using logistic model and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs).

RESULTS

In 47 LT recipients, 10 developed grade 3 PGD, which was obvious at H6 in 8 cases. Clinical risk factors, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and endocan (both forms) were not associated with grade 3 PGD. Significant predictors of grade 3 PGD included (1) EVLWi (optimal cutoff, 13.7 mL/kg; AUC, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-0.99), (2) PaO2/FiO2 ratio (optimal cutoff, 236; AUC, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.84), and (3) sRAGE (optimal cutoff, 11 760 pg/mL; AUC, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.41-0.91) measured at H0.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediate postreperfusion increases in EVLWi and sRAGE along with impaired PaO2/FiO2 ratios were early predictors of grade 3 PGD at or beyond 6 hours and may trigger early therapeutic interventions.