Gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation.

Background: Gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation remain a common yet poorly defined problem. In this study we examine our experience with gastrointestinal complications after lung transplantation.

Methods: Between August 1990 and June 2005, we retrospectively analyzed 208 patients who had undergone lung transplantation (single, 65% [137 of 212]; double, 34% [72 of 212]; heart-lung, 0.5% [2 of 212]; living related, 0.5% [1 of 212]). Four patients were retransplanted. Gastrointestinal complications were defined as any post-transplant diagnosis related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Results: Ninety of 208 (43%) transplant patients developed 113 gastrointestinal complications during follow-up (median 3.5 years [62 days to 10.0 years]). Biliary etiology was the most common (12% [25 of 208]), requiring cholecystectomy in 13 patients. Diarrheal syndromes occurred in 21 patients (10%) with 2 patients requiring laparotomies. Small bowel obstruction and/or gastroparesis were present in 17 (5%) and 12 (6%) patients, respectively. Fourteen patients required surgical lysis of adhesions for small bowel obstruction and 7 patients underwent gastric drainage procedures. Three patients had peptic ulcer disease with 2 patients requiring laparotomy for perforated duodenal ulcer. Ten patients developed gastrointestinal bleeding with 1 requiring a colectomy. Three patients presented with diverticulitis and 2 required colectomy. Three patients required laparotomy due to intraperitoneal leakage of gastric secretions after gastromy tube placement. Eleven (16%) deaths were directly related to gastrointestinal complications. Of those patients who required a laparotomy for indications other than cholelithiasis, 9 (35%) died within 8 weeks.

Conclusions: Gastrointestinal complications are common after lung transplantation and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Vigilance is required for early recognition and prompt treatment.