The First Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation in Korea: a Case Report

Living-donor lobar lung transplantation

Living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) is indicated for critically ill patients who would not survive the waiting period in the case of severe brain-dead donor shortage. It is essential to confirm that potential donors are willing to donate without applying psychological pressure from others. In standard LDLLT, the right and left lower lobes donated by 2 healthy donors are implanted into the recipient under cardiopulmonary support. LDLLT can be applied to various lung diseases including restrictive, obstructive, infectious, and vascular lung diseases in both adult and pediatric patients if size matching is acceptable. Functional size matching by measuring donor pulmonary function and anatomical size matching by 3-dimensional computed tomography volumetry are very useful. When 2 donors with ideal size matching are not available, various transplant procedures, such as single lobe, segmental, recipient lobe-sparing, and inverted lobar transplants are valuable options. There seems to be immunological advantages in LDLLT as compared to cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT). Unilateral chronic allograft dysfunction is a unique manifestation after bilateral LDLLT, which may contribute to better prognosis. The growth of adult lung graft implanted into growing pediatric recipients is suggested by radiologic evaluation. Although only 2 lobes are implanted, postoperative pulmonary function is equivalent between LDLLT and CLT. The long-term outcome after LDLLT is similar to or better than that after CLT. The author has performed 164 LDLLTs resulting in 71.6% survival rate at 10 years. All living-donors returned to their previous life styles. Because of possible serious morbidity in donors, LDLLT should be applied only for critically ill patients.

Technical Aspects of Lung Transplantation: Pediatric and Lobar Transplantation

Fewer patients undergo pediatric lung transplantation (PLT) than adult lung transplantation. Size mismatch is the key factor that limits the availability of potential donors. Every candidate for PLT is in a different scenario in terms of age, height and weight, size of structures, indications for PLT, the concomitant presence of a cardiac anomaly, and other individual-specific factors; thus, a thorough understanding of pediatric patients’ medical problems is essential. Living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) has only been performed once in Korea to date. However, since each step in the LDLLT is a well-established procedure, including intrapericardial lobectomy, lung procurement, and lobar lung transplantation, qualified surgeons and lung transplantation teams are competent to perform LDLLT in clinically necessary situations.

Lung transplant programs in developing countries: challenges, solutions, and outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The majority of lung transplants (LT) performed are in developed countries. In contrast, little is known about the status of LT in developing nations. The objective is to summarize the challenges, present solutions, and review outcomes of LT in developing countries. We hope this review will guide healthcare providers in such countries that are contemplating embarking on this journey.

RECENT FINDINGS

The key challenges that programs in developing countries encountered included shortage and marginal quality of donated organs, lack of dedicated multi-disciplinary LT team, limited availability of advanced technology and high risk of post-transplant infections. Education and collaboration among government, public, and healthcare sectors was seen as fundamental to building and maintaining a successful program. Despite minimal resources and huge challenges, LT survival rates in developing countries improved and were comparable with outcomes reported by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Registry.

SUMMARY

Starting a new LT program is a daunting task that is complex and resource intensive, especially in developing countries. Improving outcomes indeed provide impetus to continue to persevere in this endeavor with support from all sectors. The findings presented here could help new programs to better anticipate and tackle challenges.