Antifungal prophylaxis during the early postoperative period of lung transplantation. Valencia Lung Transplant Group.

INTRODUCTION: Fungal infections occur frequently in lung transplant patients, with the highest risk being in the early postoperative period (the initial hospitalization after lung transplantation). Aspergillus is responsible for more than half of all fungal infections, and Aspergillus has even been considered a contraindication for lung transplantation because of its difficult therapy and frequently fatal outcome. The aim of this article is to evaluate the success of an antifungal prophylaxis protocol to prevent fungal infection in the immediate postoperative period in lung transplant recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From March 1994 to March 1997, we performed 52 lung transplants in 31 men and 21 women who received antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole, 400 mg/d, and aerosolized amphotericin B, 0.6 mg/kg/d, during the postoperative period. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) postoperative period duration was 49 +/- 27.5 days. No fungal infections were observed during this period, and all patients provided negative cultures. We also found no toxicity related to antifungal drugs. The dose of cyclosporine was easily adjusted in every recipient according to blood levels so that effective immunosuppression was not compromised. DISCUSSION: In our study, the removal of the lungs and antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole and aerosolized amphotericin B prevented fungal infection in the postoperative period in all 52 lung transplant recipients.

Tracheoplasty in a large tracheoesophageal fistula.

Postintubation tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) are severe lesions that can be associated with tracheal stenosis and therapeutic difficulties. A case is reported of a woman with TEF and postintubation tracheal stenosis with 6.5 cm of affected trachea, and total esophageal exclusion. A tracheoplasty method is described patching the loss of the tracheal membranous wall with the posterior esophageal wall. In a final step, a self-expanded tracheal stent and esophagocolic bypass were added.

Surgical treatment of lung carcinoma involving the chest wall.

From 1969 to 1986, 97 patients with chest wall invasion by lung carcinoma (excluding superior sulcus tumours) underwent surgical resection in two hospitals, La Paz (Madrid) and La Fé (Valencia). The same surgical policy was used in both thoracic surgical units: extrapleural pulmonary resection when tumour involved only the parietal pleura (N = 36), and en bloc chest wall resection when the carcinoma extended into the ribs and intercostal muscles (N = 61). The tumour histology was classified according the WHO criteria. Lobectomy or bilobectomy was carried out in 72%, pneumonectomy in 18% and segmentectomy or wedge resection in 10% of the patients. The perioperative mortality was higher in the en bloc resection group 9/61 (15%) versus 2/36 (6%) for extrapleural dissection. The node staging was NO in 58/97 (60%), N1 in 16/97 (16%) and N2 in 23/97 (24%). The probability of survival was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method collecting data from the perioperative survivors only. The overall 5-year survival was 23% with no significant differences between the en bloc resection and the extrapleural lung resection groups. The most important predictor of survival was the node stage. The 5-year survival for N1 and N2 were 8% and 6%, respectively. These percentages increased to 34% when N0 patients were considered. Other predictors of survival were not significant. The authors conclude that either extrapleural or en bloc chest wall resection are both valid procedures which may be used depending on the depth of local invasion.

Management of non-tumoral tracheal stenosis in 112 patients.

From January 1973 to August 1989, 112 patients with non-tumoral tracheal strictures were treated in our unit. In 102 patients, the stenosis followed respiratory support. Eighty-one patients were treated surgically; the rest required only endoscopic therapy. In 28 patients, surgical treatment followed failure of endoscopic management. Of the patients submitted to surgery an isolated tracheal stenosis was present in 54 cases while a laryngotracheal stricture was the lesion in the other 27. Tracheal resection and end-to-end anastomosis was performed in the former group. Rethi, Pearson and Couraud procedures, respectively, were carried out in the latter. We emphasize the difference in the results achieved in the first 5 years and those obtained in the last 10 years. In the former period, 7 reoperations were needed. On the other hand, although the overall mortality of both series was 9%, it decreased to 2% during the last 10 years. Excellent or good ultimate results were achieved in 92% of survivors. Finally, we stress the differences in the proportion of reinterventions and definitive failures in the surgical treatment of isolated tracheal stenosis compared to laryngotracheal strictures.

Blunt chest injuries in 1696 patients.

We review 1696 patients with blunt chest trauma. Road traffic accidents were the main cause of injury followed by domestic falls and labour accidents. Outdoor falls and sport accidents accounted for a small number of injuries. For clinical evaluation, Stoddart's score was used. The injuries were considered as minor in 710 patients, intermediate in 740 and severe in 246. Global in-hospital mortality was low (5%) but increased to 37% when only patients with multiple severe injuries were considered. Thoracic wall fractures were present in 1419 patients. Flail chest was diagnosed in 140 patients and pulmonary contusion in 275. Diaphragmatic rupture was present in 40 patients and tracheobronchial injury in 6. Cardiovascular injuries occurred in 55 patients. Associated extrathoracic injuries were seen in 611 patients: 923 patients were clinically observed and/or medically treated. An intercostal tube was inserted in 638 patients. Thoracotomy was undertaken in 105 patients. Surgical fixation for flail chest was carried out in 29 patients. The results were generally good: 9 patients did not need any mechanical ventilation and 11 were ventilated for a short period. No deaths were due to the surgical procedure. The authors maintain that a selective attitude restricting, but not ignoring, surgical stabilization is the best policy.

[The first simultaneous double unilateral lung transplantation in Spain: clinical course and results. Transplantation Group]. / Primer doble trasplante unipulmonar simultáneo en España: desarrollo y resultado. Grupo de Trasplante.

Unilateral lung transplantation of two organs allows two patients to benefit from a single donor. We report the first and only such transplants--carried out simultaneously in the same surgical unit--to be performed in Spain to date. The diagnosis was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in both cases and the donor came from the same hospital. No complications developed during the subsequent hospital stay. Two years later, both patients are asymptomatic and carrying out normal activities with no limitations.

Intrabronchial instillation of amphotericin B lipid complex: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to present our results of topical intrabronchial installation of amphotericin B lipid complex (AmpB lipid). PATIENT AND METHODS: A deposit of fungal material was observed in a bilateral lung transplant recipient who experienced stenosis of the left anastomosis and have been fitted with a double endobronchial prosthesis. The deposit was adherent to the prosthetic material, causing marked local laceration, risk of perforation, and exacerbation of the bronchial stenosis. Upon cultivation of a bronchial aspirate (BAS), we isolated Aspergillus fumigatus, Scedosporium prolificans, and Candida glabrata. Systemic antifungal treatment was begun with oral voriconazole (200 mg every 12 hours) and inhaled AmpB lipid (25 mg once daily). The fungal deposit on the prosthetic material was treated by topical instillation of a solution of 25 mg AmpB lipid before and after each therapeutic fibrobronchoscopy (FB), which was performed weekly at 5 consecutive examinations. Tolerance was excellent. RESULTS: The improvement obtained after the procedure made it possible to withdraw one of the displaced prostheses. Subsequent cultivation for the fungi found in the BAS was persistently negative over a follow-up of 2 years. CONCLUSION: Topical intrabronchial instillation of AmpB lipid has proven effective and well tolerated for the treatment of localized fungal colonies. This use could be extended by protocol to FB in the early postoperative period after lung transplantation for antifungal prophylaxis.