Lung Preservation Study by Canine Sequential Bilateral Single Lung Transplantation Model

Abstract

Sequential bilateral single lung transplantation (SBSLT) is widely used for patients with primary pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger’s syndrome as well as with pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and bilateral brochiectasis.1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 As lung transplantation has become increasingly successful, the need for suitable donor organs has become correspondingly more acute. The currently accepted “safe” ischemia time of 6 hours imposes certain restrictions on the logistics of procuring and distributing donor lungs. Improvements in lung preservation techniques might increase the number of useable donor lungs by permitting lung procurement at long distances, and promoting sharing of 2 donor lungs between different institution. In this study, a canine SBSLT model was used to evaluate the already established lung preservation method, which has been proven to provide safe preservation for 24 hours in a canine single lung transplantation model.