Clinical Outcomes of Lung Transplants From Donors With Unexpected Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is unexpectedly detected in some donor lungs during organ procurement for lung transplantation. Anecdotally, such lungs are usually implanted; however, the impact of this finding on recipient outcomes remains unclear. We hypothesized that incidentally detected donor PE is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes among lung transplant recipients.

Impact of Nighttime Lung Transplantation on Outcomes and Costs.

Background: Previous studies in the field of organ transplantation have shown a possible association between nighttime surgery and adverse outcomes. We aim to determine the impact of nighttime lung transplantation on postoperative outcomes, long-term survival, and overall cost.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort analysis of adult lung transplant recipients who underwent transplantation between January 2006 and December 2017.

Chest computed tomography imaging improves potential lung donor assessment.

Objective: Chest computed tomography (CT) imaging is being increasingly used for potential lung donor assessment. However, the efficacy of CT imaging in this setting remains unknown. We hypothesize that chest CT imaging independently affects the decision-making process in donor lung utilization.

Association between Allosensitization and Waiting List Outcomes among Adult Lung Transplant Candidates in the United States.

Allosensitization may be a barrier to lung transplant. Currently, consideration is not given to allosensitization when assigning priority on the lung transplant waiting list. We aimed to examine the association between allosensitization and waiting list outcomes.

Technical Considerations for Lung Transplantation in Kartagener's Syndrome.

Kartagener's syndrome is a rare genetic disorder of ciliated epithelial cells associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections, bronchiectasis, and situs inversus. In some patients, the accumulation of airway secretions and recurrent infections lead to end-stage lung disease, for which lung transplantation is the only effective treatment. Anatomical variations, such as dextrocardia and pulmonary situs inversus, make the procedure challenging, yet feasible with certain technical modifications and careful preparation of donor lungs.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome-free survival after lung transplantation: An International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Transplant Registry analysis.

Background: Lung transplant (LTx) recipients have low long-term survival and a high incidence of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). However, few long-term, multicenter, and precise estimates of BOS-free survival (a composite outcome of death or BOS) incidence exist.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of primary LTx recipients (1994-2011) reported to the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation Thoracic Transplant Registry assessed outcomes through 2012.

Impact of Delayed Chest Closure on Surgical Site Infection After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Delayed chest closure is an increasingly used approach in the management of bleeding and hemodynamic instability after lung transplantation. We sought to evaluate the impact of delayed chest closure on surgical site infection.

Methods: We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study and included adult patients who received a lung transplant at our center between January 1, 2010, and July 31, 2014.

Obliterative Bronchiolitis.

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is a clinical syndrome marked by progressive dyspnea and cough with the absence of parenchymal lung disease on radiographic studies. Pulmonary function testing reveals an obstructive ventilatory defect that is typically not reversed by inhaled bronchodilator. Transbronchial biopsies are insufficiently sensitive to achieve diagnosis, and in most cases, clinical, physiological, and radiological data obviate the need for the increased risk associated with open lung biopsy.

Other asthma considerations.

Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome of cough, wheeze, dyspnea, and chest tightness. However, in a subset of patients, these symptoms may indicate a different underlying disease process with variable responsiveness to classic asthma therapies. Disease may progress while practitioners attempt conventional asthma therapy.

Hypocapnia and hypercapnia are predictors for ICU admission and mortality in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to examine in patients hospitalized with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) the association between abnormal Pa CO 2 and ICU admission and 30-day mortality.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at two tertiary teaching hospitals. Eligible subjects were admitted with a diagnosis of CAP.