Anesthesia for bilateral lung transplantation without cardiopulmonary bypass: initial experience and review of intraoperative problems

Abstract

Bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) is a recently described procedure based on two sequential single-lung transplantations (SLT), which are performed by a transverse sternobithoracotomy. It does not require either cardiac arrest or routine use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The intraoperative management of 10 patients suffering from end-stage pulmonary disease is reported. Implantation of the first graft is quite similar to a SLT. Problems encountered during this procedure (ie, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, or low cardiac output) were due to restricted pulmonary and cardiac reserve. Preoperative and intraoperative assessment of the recipient's respiratory and cardiac status was, therefore, of prime importance. Mild preoperative pulmonary hypertension, well-preserved right ventricular function, and removal of the less well-perfused lung limited these difficulties; no patient required partial CPB at this stage. During the second lung implantation, gas exchange was provided by the first grafted lung. Measurements of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), venous admixture (Qva/Qt), and dead space (VD/VT) assessed with the arterial-to-end-tidal CO2 difference were used to confirm the adequacy of perfusion and V/Q matching. In one patient, partial CPB was instituted because of surgical difficulty related to inadequate size matching of the lungs. In the other patients, first graft function was satisfactory and the second graft was implanted without CPB. With chest closure, PVR returned to nearly normal values (range, 57-293, mean 167 dynes.s.cm-5) and Qva/Qt increased (range, 3 to 36, mean 20%). This limited series demonstrates that CPB is optional during this procedure. Good selection of recipients and donors, good lung preservation methods, and a short duration of cold ischemia are essential to success.