Single lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension: Technical aspects and immediate hemodynamic results

Donor availability has limited the clinical applicability of heart-lung transplantation in patients with end-stage pulmonary hypertension. Satisfaction with single lung transplantation in other patient groups prompted its extension to patients with pulmonary hypertension. Nine patients with end-stage pulmonary hypertension underwent single lung transplantation. Important technical considerations included routine use of cardiopulmonary bypass, simultaneous closure of significant associated cardiac defects (n = 4), and use of remaining thoracic donor organs in multiple recipients (total thoracic transplants from eight donors = 21). Analysis of immediate postoperative hemodynamics suggests that early relief of pulmonary hypertension and improvement in right ventricular function can be expected. There was one postoperative death. Eight patients have been discharged and are alive and well at a mean follow-up period of 1 year. All eight survivors have returned to New York Heart Association functional class I from their preoperative levels of III or IV. These results support the use of single lung transplantation as a transplant option in patients with end-stage pulmonary hypertension. The question of long-term durability remains unanswered.