Pneumonia versus graft dysfunction as the cause of acute respiratory failure after lung transplant: a 4-year multicentre prospective study in 153 adults requiring intensive care admission.

We aimed to assess the main causes of intensive care unit (ICU) readmissions in lung transplant adults and to identify independent predictors of ICU mortality (primary end-point).This Spanish five-centre prospective cohort study enrolled all lung transplant adults with ICU readmissions after post-transplant ICU discharge between 2012 and 2016. Patients were followed until hospital discharge or death.153 lung transplant recipients presented 174 ICU readmissions at a median (interquartile range) of 6 (2-25) months post-transplant. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction was reported in 39 (25.5%) recipients, 13 of whom (all exitus) had restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS). Acute respiratory failure (ARF) (110 (71.9%)) was the main condition requiring ICU readmission. Graft rejection (six (5.4%) acute) caused only 12 (10.8%) readmissions whereas pneumonia (56 (36.6%)) was the main cause (50 admitted for ARF and six for shock), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (50% multidrug resistant) being the predominant pathogen. 55 (35.9%) and 69 (45.1%) recipients died in the ICU and the hospital, respectively. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) stage 2 (adjusted OR (aOR) 7.2 (95% CI 1.0-65.7)), BOS stage 3 (aOR 13.7 (95% CI 2.5-95.3)), RAS (aOR >50) and pneumonia at ICU readmission (aOR 2.5 (95% CI 1.0-7.1)) were identified in multivariate analyses as independent predictors of ICU mortality. Only eight (5.2%) patients had positive donor-specific antibodies prior to ICU readmission and this variable did not affect the model.ARF was the main condition requiring ICU readmission in lung transplant recipients and was associated with high mortality. Pneumonia was the main cause of death and was also an independent predictor. RAS should receive palliative care rather than ICU admission.

Risk Factors for Mortality in 272 Patients With Lung Transplant: A Multicenter Analysis of 7 Intensive Care Units / Factores de riesgo de mortalidad en 272 pacientes sometidos a trasplante pulmonar: análisis multicéntrico de 7 unidades de cuidados intensivos

Background: One-year survival in lung transplant is around 85%, but this figure has not increased in recent years, in spite of technical improvements. Methods: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Data from 272 eligible adults with lung transplant were recorded at 7 intensive care units (ICU) in Spain in 2013. The objective was to identify variables that might help to guide future clinical interventions in order to reduce the risk of death in the postoperative period. Results: One patient (0.3%) died in the operating room and 27 (10%) within 90 days. Twenty (7.4%) died within 28 days, after a median of 14 ICU days. Grade 3 pulmonary graft dysfunction was documente in 108 patients, of whom 21 died, compared with 6 out of 163 without pulmonary graft dysfunction (P < .001). At ICU admission, non-survivors had significantly lower (P = .03) median PaO2/FiO2 (200 mmHg vs 280 mmHg), and the difference increased after 24 hours (178 vs 297 mmHg, P < .001). Thirteen required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 7(53.8%) died. A logistic regression model identified pulmonary graft dysfunction (OR: 6.77), donor age > 60yr (OR: 2.91) and SOFA > 8 (OR: 2.53) as independent predictors of 90-day mortality. At ICU admission, higher median procalcitonin (1.6 vs 0.6) and lower median PaO2/FiO2 (200 vs 280 mmHg) were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion: Graft dysfunction remains a significant problem in lung transplant. Early ICU interventions in patients with severe hypoxemia or high procalcitonin are crucial in order to lower mortality (AU)

Introducción: La supervivencia anual del trasplante de pulmón está alrededor del 85% y este porcentaje no se ha incrementado recientemente, a pesar de mejoras técnicas. Métodos: Estudio de cohortes, multicéntrico, retrospectivo. Se recogieron datos de 272 adultos con trasplante de pulmón en 7 unidades de cuidados intensivos españolas en 2013. El objetivo fue identificar variables que pudieran ser de utilidad para guiar futuras intervenciones clínicas para disminuir el riesgo de fallecer en el postoperatorio. Resultados: Un paciente (0,3%) falleció en quirófano y 27 (10%) a los 90 días. Veinte (7,4%) fallecieron en 28 días, después de una mediana de 14 días en unidad de cuidados intensivos. La disfunción primaria grado 3 se documentó en 108 pacientes, de los cuales 21 fallecieron, comparado con 6 de 163 sin disfunción primaria grado 3 (p < 0,001). Al ingreso en unidad de cuidados intensivos, los no supervivientes mostraban una significativa menor mediana (p = 0,03) de PaO2/FiO2 (200 vs. 280 mmHg); esta diferencia se incrementó a las 24 h (178 vs. 297 mmHg, p < 0,001). Trece requirieron oxigenación con membrana extracorpórea (53,8%) y 7 fallecieron. Un modelo de regresión logística múltiple identificó la disfunción primaria grado 3 (OR: 6,77), edad donante > 60 años (OR: 2,91) y SOFA > 8 (OR: 2,53) como predictores independientes (p < 0,05) de mortalidad a los 90 días. En el ingreso en unidad de cuidados intensivos, una mediana de procalcitonina plasmática superior (1,6 vs. 0.6 ng/mL) e inferior de PaO2/FiO2 (200 vs. 280 mmHg) se asociaron independientemente (p < 0,05) con la mortalidad. Conclusión: La disfunción primaria del injerto continúa siendo un problema significativo en el trasplante pulmonar. Las intervenciones precoces dirigidas a mejorar la hipoxemia o la identificación de elevación de procalcitonina representan oportunidades para disminuir la mortalidad (AU)

Role of biomarkers in early infectious complications after lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Infections and primary graft dysfunction are devastating complications in the immediate postoperative period following lung transplantation. Nowadays, reliable diagnostic tools are not available. Biomarkers could improve early infection diagnosis. METHODS: Multicentre prospective observational study that included all centres authorized to perform lung transplantation in Spain. Lung infection and/or primary graft dysfunction presentation during study period (first postoperative week) was determined. Biomarkers were measured on ICU admission and daily till ICU discharge or for the following 6 consecutive postoperative days. RESULTS: We included 233 patients. Median PCT levels were significantly lower in patients with no infection than in patients with Infection on all follow up days. PCT levels were similar for PGD grades 1 and 2 and increased significantly in grade 3. CRP levels were similar in all groups, and no significant differences were observed at any study time point. In the absence of PGD grade 3, PCT levels above median (0.50 ng/ml on admission or 1.17 ng/ml on day 1) were significantly associated with more than two- and three-fold increase in the risk of infection (adjusted Odds Ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06 to 5.30 and 3.44, 95% confidence interval 1.52 to 7.78, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of severe primary graft dysfunction, procalcitonin can be useful in detecting infections during the first postoperative week. PGD grade 3 significantly increases PCT levels and interferes with the capacity of PCT as a marker of infection. PCT was superior to CRP in the diagnosis of infection during the study period.

Risk Factors for Mortality in 272 Patients With Lung Transplant: A Multicenter Analysis of 7 Intensive Care Units.

BACKGROUND: One-year survival in lung transplant is around 85%, but this figure has not increased in recent years, in spite of technical improvements. METHODS: Retrospective, multicenter cohort study. Data from 272 eligible adults with lung transplant were recorded at 7 intensive care units (ICU) in Spain in 2013. The objective was to identify variables that might help to guide future clinical interventions in order to reducethe risk of death in the postoperative period. RESULTS: One patient (0.3%) died in the operating room and 27 (10%) within 90 days. Twenty (7.4%) died within 28 days, after a median of 14 ICU days. Grade 3 pulmonary graft dysfunction was documented in 108 patients, of whom 21 died, compared with 6 out of 163 without pulmonary graft dysfunction (P<.001). At ICU admission, non-survivors had significantly lower (P=.03) median PaO2/FiO2 (200mmHg vs 280mmHg), and the difference increased after 24hours (178 vs 297mmHg, P<.001). Thirteen required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 7(53.8%) died. A logistic regression model identified pulmonary graft dysfunction (OR: 6.77), donor age>60yr (OR: 2.91) and SOFA>8 (OR: 2.53) as independent predictors of 90-day mortality. At ICU admission, higher median procalcitonin (1.6 vs 0.6) and lower median PaO2/FiO2 (200 vs 280mmHg) were significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Graft dysfunction remains a significant problem in lung transplant. Early ICU interventions in patients with severe hypoxemia or high procalcitonin are crucial in order to lower mortality.