Successful lung transplantation with graft recovered after thoracoabdominal normothermic perfusion from donor after circulatory death

Am J Transplant. 2022 Jan;22(1):294-298. doi: 10.1111/ajt.16806. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

Abstract

Lung transplantation with lungs procured from donors after circulatory death (DCD) has been established as an alternative technique to traditional donation after brain death (DBD) with comparable outcomes. Recently, in situ thoracoabdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA-NRP) has emerged as a novel technique employed in the procurement of cardiac allografts after circulatory death. TA-NRP, in contrast to ex situ machine perfusion, has the advantage of allowing in situ assessment of donor organs prior to final acceptance. However, there are some concerns that this technique may adversely impact the quality of lung allografts. Here, we present a case of a successful bilateral sequential lung transplantation in a patient with postinflammatory pulmonary fibrosis due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), with lungs procured after normothermic in situ lung perfusion. Apart from the lungs, heart, liver, and kidneys were also successfully transplanted from this donor.

Keywords: clinical research/practice; donors and donation: donation after circulatory death (DCD); lung (allograft) function/dysfunction; lung transplantation/pulmonology; organ acceptance; organ perfusion and preservation; organ procurement; organ procurement and allocation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Death
  • Humans
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Organ Preservation
  • Perfusion
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement*