Single lung transplantation retrospective analysis of intraoperative cardiovascular problems

BACKGROUND: Analysis of haemodynamic problems during single-lung transplantation and of methodologies employed for their treatment. METHODS: Design of the study: clinical retrospective study. SETTING: General University Hospital. PATIENTS: patients with irreversible lung disease, either parenchymal or vascular, undergoing single lung transplantation. INTERVENTIONS: recording of circulatory failure episodes and treatment with pharmacologic support or cardiopulmonary bypass. Modifications occurring during the study period with respect to drugs administered. Evaluation of the consequences of cardiopulmonary bypass on the postoperative outcome, namely on the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the intensive care unit. RESULTS: During the last 9 years 69 single-lung transplantations have been performed. In 50% of cases a pharmacologic support has been employed; the drug association dobutamine/nitroprusside has been gradually replaced by the association norepinephrine/nitric oxide for the treatment of right ventricular failure. Twenty patients required cardiopulmonary bypass and this caused a significant increase of the duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic changes during lung transplantation are complex and often severe, leading to a clinical status of right ventricular failure, that sometime requires a mechanical circulatory support. The introduction of nitric oxide in clinical practice significantly contributed to the optimization of intraoperative cardiocirculatory profile of patients, leading to a reduction in the use of vasoactive drugs and cardiopulmonary bypass.