Experience of the first lung transplantation performed in public sector in India

Abstract

Lung transplantation is the only modality that offers a long-term solution for end-stage lung diseases. Few centers in India have an active lung transplant program. Preoperative and postoperative considerations in lung transplantation may be different in the developing countries when compared to the developed world. In the early posttransplant period, infection could be the major consideration in developing countries, unlike graft rejection, that is usually the primary concern in the developed world. Herein, we report the first lung transplantation from a public sector hospital in India. The patient was a 33-year-old female, who underwent bilateral lung transplantation at our center, but succumbed to surgical and infectious complications in the early posttransplant period.

Keywords: Interstitial lung disease; lung transplantation; pneumonia.

Figure 1

(a) Preoperative chest radiograph showing bilateral extensive reticulonodular opacities obscuring cardiac borders. (b) Preoperative high-resolution computed tomography scan of the chest showing bilateral intra and interlobular septal thickening, patchy areas of consolidation, ground glass opacities, and presence of variable-sized cysts

Figure 2

(a) Chest radiograph on the first postoperative day showing bilateral diffuse alveolar opacities. (b) Chest radiograph 12 days after transplantation showing partial clearing of the alveolar opacities. (c) Chest radiograph 14 days after transplantation showing reappearance of extensive bilateral alveolar opacities. Evidence of air collection within the subcutaneous soft tissue can also be noted at both sides of the chest