Lung transplantation: a decade of experience.

Background: Over the past 3 decades, the field of lung transplantation has been refined. However, many barriers exist that limit long-term success. The purpose of this study was to review a single institution's long-term experience with single and double lung transplantation and to assess the effect of different immunosuppressive therapies on outcomes.

Methods: Lung transplant recipients, both single and double, were reviewed, retrospectively. Patients were divided into five groups: group I, all lung transplants (n = 127); group II, single lung transplants (n = 73); group III, double lung transplants (n = 54); group IV, OKT3 induction therapy recipients (n = 27); and group V, RATG induction therapy recipients (n = 100). Rates of survival, rejection, bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) and infection were analyzed at 1, 3, and 5 years.

Results: There were no significant differences in survival, acute rejection rate, freedom from BOS, nor infection between single and double lung transplant recipients. Induction therapy with RATG (group V) was associated with significantly improved survival and freedom from acute rejection, BOS, and infection when compared to OKT3 induction therapy (group IV).

Conclusions: An earlier impression that RATG is superior to OKT3 induction therapy has borne true in terms of overall survival and incidence of BOS, acute rejection and infection rates. Lung transplantation, using RATG induction therapy, remains an important modality for end-stage pulmonary disease.