Feasibility and Safety of a Transthoracic Pneumostoma Airway Bypass in Severe Emphysema Patients.

BACKGROUND: Emphysema is characterised by airflow obstruction, hyperinflation, and resultant dyspnoea. It is worth investigating whether decompression improves lung mechanics and enhances quality of life (QoL). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility and safety of creating a transthoracic pneumostoma to enable lung reduction. METHODS: A transthoracic 10-mm diameter Portaero Access Tube (Portaero™, Cupertino, CA, USA) was implanted via a third intercostal space incision in 15 severe emphysema patients [mean age 63 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s 54% predicted, diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 31% predicted, residual volume 246% predicted, Six-Minute Walk Test 296 m]. Four weeks later, an 8-mm Portaero Disposable Tube (3-8 cm in length) was substituted and changed daily thereafter. The targeted primary endpoints were a ≥12% increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s and a decrease of ≥4 points in Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire score at 6 months. RESULTS: Sixteen procedures were performed on 15 patients, complicated by 1 intercostal haemorrhage, 1 pneumothorax, and universal mild surgical emphysema. Early patency issues were common, but often responded to external endoscopic debridement or argon plasma laser. Three-month patency was achieved in 9 of 15 patients, and 6 of these had long-term patency (mean of 4 years). Patency was associated with potentially useful long-term improvements or stability in spirometry, residual volume, and QoL. However, the primary endpoints were not met at 6 months. CONCLUSION: The creation and maintenance of a transthoracic pneumostoma appears feasible and safe in patients with severe emphysema. Further studies refining patient selection (perhaps via chest computed tomography collateral ventilation and fissure assessments), techniques, and tube materials are suggested.

Heart-Lung Transplantation: Technical Modifications to Simplify the Procedure.

Heart-lung transplantation is a mature therapy but has perioperative complications, such as phrenic nerve dysfunction and mediastinal bleeding. We report our technical modifications to simplify the procedure.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Surgical Repair of Postinfarct Ventricular Septal Defect.

Postinfarct ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) is associated with high mortality and the management of these patients has been a challenge with little improvement in outcomes. We commenced a protocol of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) for those patients who present in cardiogenic shock with the aim to improve end-organ function before definitive surgical repair to reduce postoperative mortality. This study reviewed the results of this strategy. This was a single-center, retrospective review of all patients who were admitted to our institution with PIVSD in cardiogenic shock from September 2015 to November 2019. Clinical and investigative data were evaluated. Eight patients were referred with PIVSD during this period in cardiogenic shock. One patient had an anterior PIVSD and the other seven had inferior PIVSD. Six patients underwent surgical repair at a median (interquartile range, IQR) of 7 (5-8) days after initiation of VA ECMO. Two patients did not undergo surgical repair. Five patients survived after surgery and one patient died postoperatively due to multiorgan failure. Preoperative use of VA ECMO is a feasible strategy for PIVSD and may improve the results of repair.

A donor PaO2/FiO2 < 300 mm Hg does not determine graft function or survival after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: A donor arterial PO2/FiO2 (P/F ratio) of less than the 300 threshold would frequently result in either exclusion of the donor or placement of the lungs on ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP). The aim was to investigate the veracity of the P/F ratio threshold of 300 for donor lung acceptability. METHODS: In 93 brain dead lung donors, arterial blood gases were drawn in the intensive care unit (ICU) just before procurement and each of the 4 donor pulmonary veins in the operating room (OR). No donor lungs were rejected for transplantation based on the last ICU or OR P/F ratio, and EVLP was not used. The recipients were followed up 6 and 12 months following transplantation. RESULTS: There were 93 recipients of bilateral lung transplantation. An arterial P/F ratio of < 300 was largely driven by a low P/F ratio in the lower lobes. There were no differences between the recipients receiving donor lungs where the ICU P/F ratio was < 300 compared with ≥ 300 in the time to extubation, grade of primary graft dysfunction, pulmonary function at 6 and 12 months, and 12-month survival. CONCLUSIONS: From this study:(1) If a donor P/F threshold of 300 was adhered to, 36% would have been rejected, and (2) The donor P/F ratio threshold of 300 is excessively conservative and results in the wastage of donor lungs and the application of unnecessary EVLP.

Sequential unilateral lung volume reduction for emphysema - Stretching the benefit.

Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction (BLVR) and Surgical Lung Volume Reduction (SLVR) and are two different approaches used to remodel severely emphysematous lungs to improve lung function and quality-of-life. We present a case initially referred for lung transplantation, where sequential left upper lobe BLVR and 7 years later right upper lobe SLVR, providing enduring physiological and functional improvement. The potential for sustained benefit via sequential unilateral lung volume reduction is under-appreciated.

Life-years gained by reducing donor heart ischemic times.

BACKGROUND: Transplantation is limited by the number of available donor organs. Donor organ maintenance systems are a recent technological advance. These systems may increase the number of donor organs that can be used and improve outcomes by decreasing donor organ ischemic time (IT). The purpose of this study was to determine the potential life-years gained if IT in the United Kingdom were decreased for cardiac transplantation. METHODS: Proportional hazards regression and extrapolation of survival rates beyond 20 years posttransplantation were used to estimate the effect of decreasing total IT on survival and the life-years gained over the lifetime of UK heart transplantation patients. RESULTS: Median survival posttransplantation was 10.4 years (95% CI 9.9 to 10.9). For each additional hour of donor organ IT, patients had a 25% increased risk of death after heart transplantation in the first year after transplant, with a 5% increase thereafter (P<0.001). On average, a recipient surviving 10 years posttransplantation could potentially gain 0.4 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.7) life-years if IT was reduced to 1 hr. The longer the IT, the greater the potential life-years to gain; for example, a recipient of an organ that would have had an IT of 6 hr without the use of an organ maintenance system might expect to gain 2.9 life-years (95% CI -0.6 to 6.4) if IT was reduced to 1 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Use of cardiac donor organ maintenance systems has the potential to increase posttransplantation survival.