Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2006 Jun;39(6):490-494.

Successful Bilateral Lung Retransplantation in a Patient with Primary Graft Failure Following a Single Lung Transplantation

• Hwang JJ
• Paik HC
• Joung EK
• Kim JH
• Lee DY

Abstract

Lung transplantation is the choice of treatment for selected patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. However, retransplantation of the lung due to primary graft failure carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. This is a case of a 52 year old male with emphysema who continuously needed a ventilator care and a tracheostomy. He underwent a left single lung transplantation but were not able to wean from the ventilator due to primary graft failure, and therefore we decided to do a retransplantation. Bilateral sequential single lung transplantation was performed under the cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered quite well and was discharged and fully active with his work. Retransplantation although it carries a high risk, is a very effective treatment in patients with primary graft failure.

Keyword

Graft rejection; Pulmonary emphysema; Reoperation; Lung transplantation

MeSH Terms

Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Emphysema
Graft Rejection
Humans
Lung Diseases
Lung Transplantation*
Lung*
Male
Middle Aged
Mortality
Pulmonary Emphysema
Reoperation
Tracheostomy
Transplants*
Ventilators, Mechanical