Postoperative Complications in Living Donors for Lung Transplantation.

Background: Living donor lobar lung transplantation is a life-saving procedure for critically ill patients. This requires 2 healthy donors exposed to risks and without medical benefit. Therefore, the donor's safety and minimal postoperative complications are crucial. This study aimed to investigate the short-term outcomes and identify the risk factors affecting these outcomes. Methods: The data of 175 living donors enrolled between 1998 and 2022 were analyzed. Donors were divided into era 1 (1998-2009) and era 2 (2010-2022). Results: The overall incidence of postoperative complications was 39%, of which 7% were major complications. Donors who underwent surgery on the right side had a higher incidence of delayed pulmonary fistulae (P = 0.01) and elevated liver enzyme levels (P = 0.028). Living donor surgery on the right side (P = 0.01), era 2 (P = 0.01), and the need for plasty (P = 0.04) were predictors of postoperative complications. Conclusions: Updated data on complications and their correlation with postoperative quality of life from this study could aid in the selection of potential donors and facilitate informed consent.

Donor's long-term quality of life following living-donor lobar lung transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Living-donor lobar lung transplantation is an alternative procedure to deceased donation lung transplantation. It involves graft donation from healthy donors; however, only a few reports have discussed its long-term prognosis in living lung donors and their associated health-related quality of life. This study aimed to examine living lung donors' health-related quality of life. METHODS: In our cross-sectional survey of living lung donors, we assessed health-related quality of life-based on three key aspects (physical, mental, and social health) using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. We also evaluated chronic postoperative pain and postoperative breathlessness using the numeric rating scale and the modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea scale, respectively. RESULTS: We obtained consent from 117 of 174 living lung donors. The average scores of the living lung donors on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were higher than the national average. However, some donors had poorer physical, mental, and social health, with lower summary scores than the national averages. Low mental component summary predictors included donor age (<40 years; odds ratio = 10.2; p < .001) and recipient age (<18 years; odds ratio = 2.73; p < .032). Low role-social component summary predictors included high lung allocation score (≥50; odds ratio = 3.94, p < .002) and recipient death (odds ratio = 3.64; p = .005). There were no predictors for a physical component summary. Additionally, many donors did not complain of pain or dyspnea. CONCLUSIONS: Living lung donors maintained an acceptable long-term health-related quality of life after surgery. Potential donors should be informed of relevant risk factors, and high-risk donors should receive appropriate support.

Infective Endocarditis Is a Risk Factor for Heparin Resistance in Adult Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVES: Heparin resistance (HR), defined as a decrease in heparin responsiveness, can result in adverse events with prolonged duration of surgery. Although some clinical risk factors have been suggested, the relationship with the surgical diagnosis is unclear. The aim of present study was to elucidate the clinical predictors of HR including the surgical diagnosis. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study determined the incidence of HR (defined as activated clotting time [ACT] <400 seconds after 250-350 IU/kg of heparin administration) and heparin sensitivity index (HSI) was calculated from the rate of change in ACT per heparin dose. Preoperative demographic data, medication history, and laboratory data also were analyzed. SETTING: Single institution, tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2012 and September 2018. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 287 patients, 88 (30.7%) were classified as HR. In univariate analysis, infective endocarditis (IE), platelet count, and serum fibrinogen and albumin levels were associated with HR. After adjustment for baseline ACT and initial heparin dose, IE (odds ratio 4.57, [95% CI: 1.10-19.1]; p = 0.037) and albumin ≤3.5 g/dL (3.17, [1.46-6.93]; p = 0.004) were associated independently with HR. Patients with IE had significantly lower HSI than those with other diseases. All HR patients were treated with additional heparin, and 17 of them received human antithrombin-III concentrate. CONCLUSIONS: Infective endocarditis and preoperative hypoalbuminemia were associated independently with HR. The optimal anticoagulation strategy for patients with these risk factors requires further investigations based on the authors' findings.

Integrated pulmonary index can predict respiratory compromise in high-risk patients in the post-anesthesia care unit: a prospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory compromise (RC) including hypoxia and hypoventilation is likely to be missed in the postoperative period. Integrated pulmonary index (IPI) is a comprehensive respiratory parameter evaluating ventilation and oxygenation. It is calculated from four parameters: end-tidal carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2), and pulse rate. We hypothesized that IPI monitoring can help predict the occurrence of RC in patients at high-risk of hypoventilation in post-anesthesia care units (PACUs). METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in two centers and included older adults (≥ 75-year-old) or obese (body mass index ≥ 28) patients who were at high-risk of hypoventilation. Monitoring was started on admission to the PACU after elective surgery under general anesthesia. We investigated the onset of RC defined as respiratory events with prolonged stay in the PACU or transfer to the intensive care units; airway narrowing, hypoxemia, hypercapnia, wheezing, apnea, and any other events that were judged to require interventions. We evaluated the relationship between several initial parameters in the PACU and the occurrence of RC. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship between IPI fluctuation during PACU stay and the occurrences of RC using individual standard deviations of the IPI every five minutes (IPI-SDs). RESULTS: In total, 288 patients were included (199 elderly, 66 obese, and 23 elderly and obese). Among them, 18 patients (6.3 %) developed RC. The initial IPI and SpO2 values in the PACU in the RC group were significantly lower than those in the non-RC group (6.7 ± 2.5 vs. 9.0 ± 1.3, p < 0.001 and 95.9 ± 4.2 % vs. 98.3 ± 1.9 %, p = 0.040, respectively). We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) to evaluate their ability to predict RC. The AUCs of the IPI and SpO2 were 0.80 (0.69-0.91) and 0.64 (0.48-0.80), respectively. The IPI-SD, evaluating fluctuation, was significantly greater in the RC group than in the non-RC group (1.47 ± 0.74 vs. 0.93 ± 0.74, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that low value of the initial IPI and the fluctuating IPI after admission to the PACU predict the occurrence of RC. The IPI might be useful for respiratory monitoring in PACUs and ICUs after general anesthesia.

Common Criteria for Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Have No Significant Impact on Posttransplant Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Although it is intense in health care resources, by facilitating assessment and reconditioning, ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has the potential to expand the donor pool and improve lung transplant outcomes. However, inclusion criteria used in EVLP trials have not been validated. METHODS: This retrospective study from 2014 to 2018 reviewed our local state-based donation organization donor records as well as subsequent recipient outcomes to explore the relation between EVLP indications used in clinical trials and recipient outcomes. The primary outcome was primary graft dysfunction grade 3 at 24 hours, with 30-day mortality and posttransplant survival time as secondary outcomes, compared with univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: From 705 lung donor referrals, 304 lung transplantations were performed (use rate of 42%); 212 of recipients (70%) met at least 1 of the commonly cited EVLP initiation criteria. There was no significant difference in primary graft dysfunction grade 3 or 30-day mortality between recipients with or without an EVLP indication (10.2% versus 7.8%, P = .51; and 2.4% versus 0%, P = .14, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed no significant relationship between commonly cited EVLP criteria and primary graft dysfunction grade 3 or survival time. Recipient outcomes were significantly associated with recipient diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: At least 1 commonly cited criterion for EVLP initiation was present in 70% of the transplanted donors, and yet it did not predict clinical results; acceptable outcomes were seen in both subgroups. To discover the true utility of EVLP beyond good clinical management and focus EVLP on otherwise unacceptable lungs, a reconsideration of EVLP inclusion criteria is required.

A Retrospective Review of Declined Lung Donors: Estimating the Potential of Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion.

BACKGROUND: Even in the extended-criteria era, the reasons for declining lung donors are not always clear. Furthermore, it has not been determined how many actual declined lungs would be retrieved by ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) beyond that already achieved in centers with an existing high utilization rate. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed all lung donor referrals between 2014 and 2018, including detailed formal referrals and preliminary notifications. This study categorized reasons for lung donor non-acceptance and estimated how many declined grafts could have been theoretically retrievable by using EVLP. RESULTS: In total, 966 lung donor candidates were referred, including 313 transplanted donors, 336 declined donors after detailed referrals (group A) and 258 preliminary declined. In group A, the primary reasons for refusal were lung quality issues (49%), general medical issues (25%), and organization issues (26%), combined with secondary reasons in many cases. Main lung quality issues were an extensive smoking history, abnormal chest radiography, and underlying lung disease. Although 73 declined lung donors had indications for EVLP, the retrievable lungs decreased to only 30 cases after considering the details of all clinical contraindications and organizational issues. Nevertheless, 59 intended donation after circulatory death donors did not progress to death after withdrawal of cardiorespiratory support in the required timeframe, and EVLP may have an emerging additional role here. CONCLUSIONS: Based on commonly cited criteria for EVLP indication, the number of EVLP retrievable lung donors represented only a small portion of declined donor lungs referred to our center from the state donation network.

Influence of the donor history of tobacco and marijuana smoking on early and intermediate lung transplant outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Donor smoking histories are common in the lung donor pool, which are known to adversely affect post-lung transplant (LTx) outcomes. However, no evidence is available about smoking status (current/former), cumulative dose effect, or the combined effect of tobacco with marijuana. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our local state-based donation organization records and subsequent LTx recipient outcomes. The primary outcome was 3-year graft survival, with cause of death as secondary outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore smoking status or cumulative dose effect. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2018, 304 LTxs were performed: 133 (44%) LTxs were from never-smoker donors, 68 (22%) from former-smoker donors, and 103 (34%) from current-smoker donors. Of the current-smoker donors, 48% had a marijuana use history. There was no significant difference in early mortality, although recipients who received transplants from current-smoker donors had a lower 3-year graft survival than those who received transplants from never smokers. Multivariate modeling showed that current tobacco smoking (hazard ratio: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.13-3.99) and a more than 5-year weekly marijuana use (hazard ratio: 2.97, 95% CI: 1.29-6.87) were independent donor factors affecting graft survival. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction accounted for a higher proportion of the causes of death within 3 years after LTx where lungs from current/former smokers were utilized compared with those from never smokers (chronic lung allograft dysfunction-cause mortality: 11%, 7%, 0%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: More than 50% of LTx donors had smoking histories. Current tobacco use or more than 5-year weekly marijuana smoking history adversely affected 3-year graft survival. Our findings support the importance of obtaining a detailed donor tobacco and marijuana smoking history.

Airway complications have a greater impact on the outcomes of living-donor lobar lung transplantation recipients than cadaveric lung transplantation recipients.

PURPOSE: Airway complications (ACs) after living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) could have different features from those after cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT). We conducted this study to compare the characteristics of ACs after LDLLT vs. those after CLT and investigate their impact on outcomes. METHODS: We reviewed, retrospectively, data on 163 recipients of lung transplantation, including 83 recipients of LDLLT and 80 recipients of CLT. RESULTS: The incidence of ACs did not differ between LDLLT and CLT. The initial type of AC after LDLLT was limited to stenosis in all eight patients, whereas that after CLT consisted of stenosis in three patients and necrosis in ten patients (p = 0.0034). ACs after LDLLT necessitated significantly earlier initiation of treatment than those after CLT (p = 0.032). The overall survival rate of LDLLT recipients with an AC was significantly lower than that of those without an AC (p = 0.030), whereas the overall survival rate was comparable between CLT recipients with and those without ACs (p = 0.25). CONCLUSION: ACs after LDLLT, limited to bronchial stenosis, require significantly earlier treatment and have a greater adverse impact on survival than ACs after CLT.

Current Ventilator and Oxygen Management during General Anesthesia: A Multicenter, Cross-sectional Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative oxygen management is poorly understood. It was hypothesized that potentially preventable hyperoxemia and substantial oxygen exposure would be common during general anesthesia. METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted to describe current ventilator management, particularly oxygen management, during general anesthesia in Japan. All adult patients (16 yr old or older) who received general anesthesia over 5 consecutive days in 2015 at 43 participating hospitals were identified. Ventilator settings and vital signs were collected 1 h after the induction of general anesthesia. We determined the prevalence of potentially preventable hyperoxemia (oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry of more than 98%, despite fractional inspired oxygen tension of more than 0.21) and the risk factors for potentially substantial oxygen exposure (fractional inspired oxygen tension of more than 0.5, despite oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry of more than 92%). RESULTS: A total of 1,786 patients were found eligible, and 1,498 completed the study. Fractional inspired oxygen tension was between 0.31 and 0.6 in 1,385 patients (92%), whereas it was less than or equal to 0.3 in very few patients (1%). Most patients (83%) were exposed to potentially preventable hyperoxemia, and 32% had potentially substantial oxygen exposure. In multivariable analysis, old age, emergency surgery, and one-lung ventilation were independently associated with increased potentially substantial oxygen exposure, whereas use of volume control ventilation and high positive end-expiratory pressure levels were associated with decreased potentially substantial oxygen exposure. One-lung ventilation was particularly a strong risk factor for potentially substantial oxygen exposure (adjusted odds ratio, 13.35; 95% CI, 7.24 to 24.60). CONCLUSIONS: Potentially preventable hyperoxemia and substantial oxygen exposure are common during general anesthesia, especially during one-lung ventilation. Future research should explore the safety and feasibility of a more conservative approach for intraoperative oxygen therapy.

Associations between intraoperative ventilator settings during one-lung ventilation and postoperative pulmonary complications: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: The interest in perioperative lung protective ventilation has been increasing. However, optimal management during one-lung ventilation (OLV) remains undetermined, which not only includes tidal volume (VT) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) but also inspired oxygen fraction (FIO2). We aimed to investigate current practice of intraoperative ventilation during OLV, and analyze whether the intraoperative ventilator settings are associated with postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) after thoracic surgery. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational two-center study in Japan. Patients scheduled for thoracic surgery with OLV from April to October 2014 were eligible. We recorded ventilator settings (FIO2, VT, driving pressure (ΔP), and PEEP) and calculated the time-weighted average (TWA) of ventilator settings for the first 2 h of OLV. PPCs occurring within 7 days of thoracotomy were investigated. Associations between ventilator settings and the incidence of PPCs were examined by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: We analyzed perioperative information, including preoperative characteristics, ventilator settings, and details of surgery and anesthesia in 197 patients. Pressure control ventilation was utilized in most cases (92%). As an initial setting for OLV, an FIO2 of 1.0 was selected for more than 60% of all patients. Throughout OLV, the median TWA FIO2 of 0.8 (0.65-0.94), VT of 6.1 (5.3-7.0) ml/kg, ΔP of 17 (15-20) cm H2O, and PEEP of 4 (4-5) cm H2O was applied. Incidence rate of PPCs was 25.9%, and FIO2 was independently associated with the occurrence of PPCs in multivariate logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio per FIO2 increase of 0.1 was 1.30 (95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.65, P = 0.0195). CONCLUSIONS: High FIO2 was applied to the majority of patients during OLV, whereas low VT and slight degree of PEEP were commonly used in our survey. Our findings suggested that a higher FIO2 during OLV could be associated with increased incidence of PPCs.

[Prolonged convulsion after intoxication of alachlor herbicide (Lasso): a case report].

We experienced a case of alachlor herbicide (Lasso) intoxication. A 57-year-old man was transported to our hospital by ambulance after ingesting 450 mL of Lasso. He was unconscious and had difficulty in breathing. Gastric lavage was performed after tracheal intubation and the patient was placed on mechanical ventilation. Activated charcoal and laxative were administrated. Even after admission, disturbance of consciousness persisted. He had liver and kidney disorders but these did not progress to multiple organ failure. He experienced convulsions from day 4 and was administered anticonvulsants. Convulsion was intractable and needed long-term treatment. His general condition improved until discharge. He was weaned from mechanical ventilation and recovered consciousness, but he still displayed tremors. The herbicide (Lasso) is a combination of alachlor and monochlorobenzene. Studies have shown that alachlor is neurotoxic and monochlorobenzene accumulates in the brain. In case of intoxication with the herbicide Lasso, treatment is required for ameliorating neurotoxic effects and intractable convulsion as well as liver and kidney disorders, gastrointestinal mucosal damage, hematopoietic disorder, and acute circulatory failure.