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Transplantation of lungs from a non-heart-beating donor

Steen, Stig LU ; Sjöberg, Trygve LU ; Pierre, Leif LU ; Liao, Qiuming LU ; Eriksson, Leif LU and Algotsson, Lars LU (2001) In The Lancet 357(9259). p.825-829
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In animals, we have previously done successful lung transplantations using organs from non-heart-beating donors. We have also developed an ex-vivo system of assessing the function of such organs before transplantation. The next stage was to try the technique in human beings. Bearing in mind the sensitive ethical issues involved, our first aim was to find out what procedures would be acceptable, and to use the results to guide a clinical lung transplantation from a non-heart-beating donor. METHODS: The ethical acceptability of the study was gauged from the results of a broad information programme directed at the general public in Sweden, and from discussions with professionals including doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains, and... (More)
BACKGROUND: In animals, we have previously done successful lung transplantations using organs from non-heart-beating donors. We have also developed an ex-vivo system of assessing the function of such organs before transplantation. The next stage was to try the technique in human beings. Bearing in mind the sensitive ethical issues involved, our first aim was to find out what procedures would be acceptable, and to use the results to guide a clinical lung transplantation from a non-heart-beating donor. METHODS: The ethical acceptability of the study was gauged from the results of a broad information programme directed at the general public in Sweden, and from discussions with professionals including doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains, and judges. The donor was a patient dying of acute myocardial infarction in a cardiac intensive-care unit after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The next of kin gave permission to cool the lungs within the intact body, and intrapleural cooling was started 65 min after death. Blood samples were sent for virological testing and cross matching. The next of kin then had time to be alone with the deceased. After 3 h, the body was transported to the operating theatre and the heart-lung block removed. The lungs were assessed ex vivo, and the body was transported to the pathology department for necropsy. RESULTS: No contraindications to transplantation were found, and the right lung was transplanted successfully into a 54-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The donor lung showed excellent function only 5 min after reperfusion and ventilation, and during the first 5 months of follow-up, the function of the transplanted lung has been good. INTERPRETATION: About half the deaths in Sweden are caused by cardiac and cerebrovascular disease. This group could be a potential source of lung donors. When all hospitals and ambulance personnel in Sweden have received training in non-heart-beating lung donation, we hope that there will be enough donor lungs of good quality for all patients needing a lung transplant. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
The Lancet
volume
357
issue
9259
pages
825 - 829
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:11265950
  • scopus:0035901275
ISSN
1474-547X
DOI
10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04195-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6658bae1-a745-4efa-8703-335f9b20452e (old id 1122290)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:09:10
date last changed
2022-04-21 02:58:42
@article{6658bae1-a745-4efa-8703-335f9b20452e,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: In animals, we have previously done successful lung transplantations using organs from non-heart-beating donors. We have also developed an ex-vivo system of assessing the function of such organs before transplantation. The next stage was to try the technique in human beings. Bearing in mind the sensitive ethical issues involved, our first aim was to find out what procedures would be acceptable, and to use the results to guide a clinical lung transplantation from a non-heart-beating donor. METHODS: The ethical acceptability of the study was gauged from the results of a broad information programme directed at the general public in Sweden, and from discussions with professionals including doctors, nurses, hospital chaplains, and judges. The donor was a patient dying of acute myocardial infarction in a cardiac intensive-care unit after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The next of kin gave permission to cool the lungs within the intact body, and intrapleural cooling was started 65 min after death. Blood samples were sent for virological testing and cross matching. The next of kin then had time to be alone with the deceased. After 3 h, the body was transported to the operating theatre and the heart-lung block removed. The lungs were assessed ex vivo, and the body was transported to the pathology department for necropsy. RESULTS: No contraindications to transplantation were found, and the right lung was transplanted successfully into a 54-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The donor lung showed excellent function only 5 min after reperfusion and ventilation, and during the first 5 months of follow-up, the function of the transplanted lung has been good. INTERPRETATION: About half the deaths in Sweden are caused by cardiac and cerebrovascular disease. This group could be a potential source of lung donors. When all hospitals and ambulance personnel in Sweden have received training in non-heart-beating lung donation, we hope that there will be enough donor lungs of good quality for all patients needing a lung transplant.}},
  author       = {{Steen, Stig and Sjöberg, Trygve and Pierre, Leif and Liao, Qiuming and Eriksson, Leif and Algotsson, Lars}},
  issn         = {{1474-547X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9259}},
  pages        = {{825--829}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{The Lancet}},
  title        = {{Transplantation of lungs from a non-heart-beating donor}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04195-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0140-6736(00)04195-7}},
  volume       = {{357}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}