[Lung transplantation in the treatment of ventilator dependent end-stage lung diseases: report of three cases].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perioperative management, recipient selection of end-stage lung diseases dependent on ventilator, and the strategy of ventilator weaning. METHODS: Fifteen patients underwent lung transplantation in our hospital from 2002 to 2005. Of them, three were dependent on ventilator for 89, 120 and 107 days respectively because of end-stage pulmonary emphysema before operation. Single-lung transplantation was performed in one patient and sequential bilateral single-lung transplantations were performed in two patients without extracorporeal circulation. RESULTS: The three patients were weaned from ventilator in the sixth, eleventh and twenty second day respectively after operation. They were discharged from hospital 71 d, 41 d, and 67 d respectively after operation. They had been followed up for 22, 4, and 2 months respectively before this analysis. Their quality of life improved significantly. CONCLUSION: Lung transplantation is effective for the treatment of ventilator dependent end-stage lung diseases.