Hanging donor lungs give good short, mid‐ and long‐term results in lung transplantation

BACKGROUND: Hanging donors are considered as marginal donors and frequently unsuitable for lung transplantation. However, there is no evidence of higher lung transplantation (LTx) morbidity-mortality with lungs providing by hanging donor. METHODS: Between January 2010 and July 2015, we performed a retrospective study at Foch hospital. We aimed to assess whether hanging donor grafts are suitable for lung transplantation. RESULTS: A total of 299 LTx were performed. Subjects were allocated to a hanging group (HG) (n = 20) and a control group (CG) (n = 279). Donor and recipient characteristics did not differ. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) at 72 hours was comparable in both groups (P = .75). The median duration of postoperative mechanical ventilation (1 [range, 0-84] vs 1 [range, 0-410] day, P = .35), the hospital length of stay (31 days [20-84] vs 32 days [12-435], P = .36) did not differ between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was found in 1-year and 5-year survival between the HG (83% and 78%) and the CG (86% and 75%), P = .85. CONCLUSION: We believe that hanging donors should be considered as conventional donors with particular caution in the final evaluation of the graft and in perioperative management.