Reoperation in the postoperative period of lung transplantation.

Abstract Background Lung transplantation (LTx) has been established as the last treatment option in certain lung diseases. It is not uncommon for complications to occur that require urgent reoperation. The objective of our study was to analyze the characteristics of lung transplant patients who required reoperation in the postoperative period. Patients and Methods We have conducted a retrospective descriptive study of 224 lung transplants from January 1999 to September 2008, excluding retransplants. A subgroup of 16 subjects (7.2%) required reoperations. Results These 16 individuals had a mean age of 49.38 ± 14.32 years with 75% men and 25% women. The disease leading to LTx was emphysema in 6 (37.5%), pulmonary fibrosis in 5 (31.3%), pulmonary hypertension in 2 (12.5%) and bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis in 1 each (6.3%). Preoperatively, 40% were taking corticosteroids. Double lung transplantation was performed in 56.3% and single lung in 43.7%. LTx surgery was prolonged in 68.8% of patients and intraoperative complications were more frequent than in the other patients ( P = .041). The causes for reoperation were bleeding in 13 (of these, 5 had severe adhesions and 4 required extracorporeal circulation during LTx); bronchial dehiscence in 1; wall dehiscence in 1; and vascular stenosis in 1. At the end of the study, 62.5% were alive and among the 6 who died, 3 succumbed as a result of the surgery. Most subjects underwent late reoperation after a mean of 16 days from transplantation (range, 1–55). The need for reoperation was not associated with greater perioperative mortality. Conclusions The incidence of reoperation in the postoperative period was low in our series. The main cause was bleeding. In more than half of the cases, LTx surgery was prolonged and intraoperative complications were more frequent. The need for reoperation was not associated with greater perioperative mortality.