Experience with pediatric lung transplantation

J Pediatr. 1994 Feb;124(2):261-8. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(94)70315-9.

Abstract

Heart-lung transplantation and lung transplantation have become accepted techniques in adult patients with end-stage cardiopulmonary disease. We report here our experience between July 1985 and March 1993 with 34 children (< 20 years) who underwent heart-lung (n = 18) or lung transplantation (n = 17). Indications for transplantation included cystic fibrosis (n = 9), congenital heart disease with Eisenmenger complex (n = 9), primary pulmonary hypertension (n = 8), pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (n = 2), desquamative interstitial pneumonia (n = 2), Proteus syndrome with multicystic pulmonary disease (n = 1), graft-versus-host disease (n = 1), rheumatoid lung disease (n = 1), and bronchiolitis obliterans and emphysema (n = 1). Twenty-six patients (76%) have survived from 1 to 88 months after transplantation; most patients have returned to an active lifestyle. Of the eight deaths, four were due to infections, two to multiorgan failure, 1 to posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease, and one to donor organ failure. Four of the patients who died had cystic fibrosis. Despite considerable morbidity related to infection, rejection, and function of the heart-lung and lung allograft in some patients, our results with this potentially lifesaving procedure in the pediatric population have been encouraging.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cause of Death
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eisenmenger Complex / surgery
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Rejection
  • Heart-Lung Transplantation / mortality*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infections / epidemiology
  • Infections / mortality
  • Lung Diseases / surgery
  • Lung Transplantation / mortality*
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Survival Analysis