Return to work after lung transplantation.

The social rehabilitation of lung transplant recipients becomes increasingly important as the results of lung transplantation improve. Although return-to-work (RTW) rates have been published for recipients of other organ transplants, no such data are available after lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors influence RTW after lung transplantation. Of 99 lung transplant recipients (43 single, 56 bilateral) surveyed from Denver, Colorado, (n = 49) and Toronto, Ontario, Canada (n = 50), 22% (n = 22) were employed, 38% (n = 38) were unemployed but medically able to work, 29% (n = 29) were medically disabled, and 10% (n = 10) had retired. The RTW rate for those medically able to work was 37% (22/60), and it was identical at each center (n = 11). Only Canadian lung transplant recipients (36%, 4/11) secured new jobs, whereas all Colorado lung transplant recipients returned to their previous employment (100%, 11/11). A stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that (1) pretransplantation employment, (2) a diagnosis of emphysema, cystic fibrosis, or primary pulmonary hypertension, (3) a self-report of being physically able to work, (4) greater functional improvement as measured by post-lung transplantation percent predicted forced vital capacity, and (5) post-lung transplantation 6-minute walk > 550 m positively influenced RTW. This analysis accurately profiled 82% of the employed and 76% of the unemployed recipients for an overall effectiveness of 79%. The findings of this study are that (1) a 37% employment rate for those physically able was comparable to other types of organ transplant recipients, (2) employment was not determined by the type of lung transplantation procedure (single or bilateral), and (3) social factors remain employment barriers for some recipients, but their absence did not guarantee a better employment rate.

The past, present, and future of lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The history of lung transplantation from the first human transplant performed in 1963 to the present is reviewed with particular focus on the added challenges because of the contaminated bronchus, exposure of the graft to airborne organisms, the poor blood supply to the bronchus, and the problem of reperfusion pulmonary edema. METHODS: The technical aspects of single and double sequential lung transplantation are reviewed, as are the current indications for single, double sequential, and heart/lung transplantation. Criteria for lung transplant recipients, in addition to their primary disease are noted, as are absolute and relative contraindications. The standard criteria for donor selection are also reviewed. RESULTS: The results of single, double sequential, and heart-lung transplantation over the past 10 years as reported by the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation Database are reviewed. In addition, the statistics of the lung and heart-lung transplantation program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center are reviewed, including the current immunosuppressive regimens and early and late monitoring for infection and rejection. This experience includes 3 early deaths in the first 53 patients for an operative mortality of 5.6%, with a 1-year actuarial survival of 90%. CONCLUSIONS: During the past decade remarkable improvement in the result of single and double sequential lung transplantation have occurred. As 1-year, actuarial survival is now approaching 90% at some institutions. Living related lobar transplantation, new antirejection agents, chimerism, and xenograft transplantation are areas for continuing and future investigation. The shortage in donor organ supply continues to be a very significant factor in limiting human lung transplantation.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a videotape for discharge teaching of organ transplant recipients.

Patients' understanding of discharge teaching is an essential factor for compliance with medications and follow-up care after an organ transplant. This study compared the knowledge gained by the current method of individualized discharge teaching with that same teaching method plus a videotape. Fifty participants were assigned alternately to two groups. A written test was used to assess knowledge after teaching. Test scores indicated that the two methods were equally effective. Qualitative data gathered during interviews indicated that both groups were equally satisfied with their education. It was concluded that videotaped education is an acceptable and effective strategy when used in conjunction with other methods. Varying the medium for education will meet the unique learning needs of more patients.

Use of cytomegalovirus (CMV) hyperimmune globulin for prevention of CMV disease in CMV-seropositive lung transplant recipients.

Our data suggest that CMVIG in combination with ganciclovir effectively reduces the incidence, and delays the onset of CMV infections in seropositive lung transplant recipients. In addition, its use may be associated with less severe CMV infection and a lower incidence of bacterial or fungal opportunistic infection. Although the number of patients in the study is small, high-titer CMVIG may be more effective than standard titer immunoglobulin in the prevention of CMV disease in lung transplant recipients. Several questions remain in addition to these: What is the optimal dosage and duration of treatment with CMVIG for prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease in lung transplant recipients; Is this strategy cost-effective; Will it reduce the incidence of obliterative bronchiolitis following lung transplantation and enhance allograft survival? A prospective, random-assignment trial is warranted to answer these questions.

[Squamous epithelial carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma of the inner nose and paranasal sinuses]. / Plattenepithelkarzinome und undifferenzierte Karzinome der inneren Nase und der Nasennebenhöhlen.

272 patients with tumours of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses were followed up from 1949 until 1982 at the ENT Department of the University Hospital in Kiel. 53% of the tumours were classified as squamous cell or undifferentiated carcinomata. At an early stage such tumours cause nonspecific symptoms which may mimic those of chronic sinusitis. Early diagnosis is usually hindered by the occult growth within the facial skeleton and especially by the minor symptoms caused by tumours of the paranasal sinuses. In contrast, tumours of the nasal cavity cause symptoms at an early stage and consequently are diagnosed early. The majority of cases with tumours of the paranasal sinuses present at an advanced stage (T3 to T4) in 70% of cases. The most common site of squamous cell carcinoma is the maxillary sinus (50%). Distant metastases and regional lymph node metastases are rarely seen at presentation regardless of the size of the primary tumour. Metastases usually indicate a tumour dependent death in the near future. The main prognostic indicators are the size of the tumour (significantly worse prognosis for T4 in comparison to T2 or T3 tumours) and the localisation (significantly better prognosis for tumours of the floor of the nasal cavity or the nasal septum compared to tumours of the paranasal sinuses). The age of the patient or the degree of differentiation of the tumour did not influence on the survival rate. Tumour-dependent deaths rarely occur after more than five years. Patients were assigned to two treatment groups and matched according to the tumour stage. One group received surgery only, whereas the second group received a combined treatment of surgery with subsequent radiotherapy. There was a significant difference between the two groups in favour of the surgical treatment. According to these data we recommend surgical excision without postoperative irradiation in cases where complete removal of the tumor has been histologically proven.