Emphysematous patients that were once treated with double lung transplantation can now also be treated with single lung transplantation. However, single lung transplantation in emphysematous patients presents problems in lung size matching, choice of side to transplant and post-operative assistance. Analysing their own experience of three single lung transplants performed on emphysematous patients, the Authors evaluate the effectiveness of the operation, the results and the difficulties encountered. Single lung transplantation is a good therapeutic option for end-stage emphysematous patients. In these patients right lung transplantation is preferable and the donor organ should be oversized. Positive and expiratory pressure in the native emphysematous lung should be applied with extreme caution.

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Left lung allotransplantation in pig feasibility and transplanted lung function. Experimental Lung Transplant Group of Ospedale Maggiore of Milan.

Changing attitudes to animals in research and practical considerations prompted the authors to evaluate whether the pig might be a suitable substitute for dog and baboons for single left lung transplants. Twenty-nine paired pigs were used. The first transplants on 13 pairs (group 1) were done to adapt the lung transplant technique to pigs; later transplants on 16 pig pairs (group 2) were done to evaluate operative survival, and function and histological modifications of the transplanted lung in the absence of immunosuppressive treatment. Surgical and anesthetic techniques for both donor and recipient are described in detail. The survival rate in group 2 was 68%. Hemodynamic and blood gas changes were assessed during operation. PaO2 did not drop significantly after occluding the right pulmonary artery by an inflatable cuff placed around it; this suggests that the function of the transplanted lung was preserved. The pigs were put down on the third postoperative day. Vascular and bronchial anastomoses were patent and intact, but the transplanted lung was macroscopically and microscopically altered. Lung transplants can be performed in pigs and the transplanted lung seems to be capable of functioning immediately after the operation. Alteration in the lung after 3 days is probably due to rejection.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Veno-venous bypass without heparin in orthotopic liver allotransplantation in the pig.

It is now widely accepted that a veno-venous bypass is required to minimize the problems of the anhepatic phase in orthotopic liver transplantation. A technique that does not require systemic anticoagulation is needed to prevent damage by heparinization in hepatic patients. The use of heparin-bonded cannulas offers low risks of thromboembolic complication. Fourteen orthotopic liver transplantation were performed in pigs, including 7 with a roller pump and 7 with a centrifugal pump, without systemic anticoagulation and with heparin-bonded circuits except for the portal cannula, connectors, centrifugal pump head and the tract of the circuit on which the roller moves. All the circuits were previously utilized in clinical liver transplantation and repeatedly washed in saline solution and sterilized for each experiment. The haemodynamic control of the anhepatic state was excellent without hypotension and venous engorgement. In only one case a thromboembolic complication was noted. Arterial pressure, heart rate, urine flow, creatinine, arterial pH and thromboelastographic data did not change significantly while on bypass. No difference was found in the use of either a roller or a centrifugal pump even when the blood flow fell to less than 1000 ml/min to 500 ml/min.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Heterotopic liver allograft in acute hepatic failure in pigs.

Seven heterotopic liver allotransplantations were performed in pigs with total, acute hepatic necrosis, induced by arterial and portal vein devascularization. Six pigs survived for 4, 6, 7, 7, 23 and 90 days respectively. Good results can be obtained only with intensive perenteral postoperative support lasting the first three days. The viability of the graft is shown by the biochemical indices and the survival of the animals. These results confirm that a heterotopic liver transplantation provides a viable substitute when the host liver is affected by acute irreversible hepatic necrosis.

Animals↗