Results in mediastinal lymph node staging of surgical lung cancer: Data from the prospective cohort of the Spanish Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Group.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of combined computerised tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) in mediastinal staging of surgical lung cancer based on data obtained from the prospective cohort of the Spanish Group for Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (GEVATS).

Methods: A total of 2782 patients underwent surgery for primary lung carcinoma. We analysed diagnostic success in mediastinal lymph node staging (cN2) using CT and PET.

Early lung retrieval from traumatic brain-dead donors does not compromise outcomes following lung transplantation.

Objectives: To determine whether lung retrieval from traumatic donors performed within 24 h of brain death has a negative impact on early graft function and survival after lung transplantation (LT), when compared with those retrieved after 24 h.

Methods: Review of lung transplants performed from traumatic donors over a 17-year period. Recipients were distributed into two groups: transplants from traumatic donor lungs retrieved within 24 h of brain death (Group A), and transplants from traumatic donor lungs retrieved after 24 h of brain death (Group B).

Influence of donor-recipient gender mismatch on graft function and survival following lung transplantation.

Objectives: In current practice, donors and recipients are not matched for gender in lung transplantation. However, some data have suggested a possible effect of gender combinations on lung transplant outcomes. We examined whether donor-recipient (D/R) gender mismatch is related to adverse outcomes after lung transplantation in terms of early and long-term graft function and survival.

Assessment of lungs for transplantation: a stepwise analysis of 476 donors.

Objective: This study aims to assess the suitability rates and the causes of lung-donor refusal, to determine which factors could be improved to expand the donor pool available for transplantation (LTx).

Methods: Lung donors offered to our Lung Transplantation Unit from October 1993 to December 2007 were reviewed to assess the causes of unsuitability. The donor-lung evaluation was divided into three stages: stage 1 (PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio, chest X-ray, bronchoscopic findings), stage 2 (donor-lung inspection and palpation) and stage 3 (assessment of grafts after harvesting).