Heart-lung transplantation for end-stage respiratory disease in patients with cystic fibrosis at Papworth Hospital

Abstract

Between October 1985 and July 1992 we performed heart-lung transplantation in 42 patients with end-stage respiratory disease caused by cystic fibrosis. Twenty-eight of these patients are alive at 3 months to 7 years after heart-lung transplantation. Actuarial survival at 1 year and 3 years after transplantation was 78% and 65%, respectively, in this group, which compares favorably with 77% and 60%, respectively, in patients without cystic fibrosis undergoing heart-lung transplantation. Similarly no significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative infections between patients with cystic fibrosis and patients without cystic fibrosis undergoing heart-lung transplantation. Quality of life indexes analyzed by the Nottingham Health Profile reveal significant improvements for patients surviving longer than 3 months from surgery. Long-term survival is determined by the development of obliterative bronchiolitis, which has occurred in 11 patients, six of whom have died. Early postoperative survival appears to be compromised by poor preoperative nutritional status. The study provides evidence that patients with end-stage respiratory disease caused by cystic fibrosis gain a survival advantage and improvement in quality of life after heart-lung transplantation when compared with patients who do not receive this form of therapy.