LONG-TERM FUNCTIONAL RESULTS AFTER BILATERAL LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

Between February 1988 and january 1992, 61 patients have undergone bil ateral lung transplantations (42 heart-lung and 19 double-lung) in Bor deaux. The underlying diseases were primary or secondary hypertension (20), emphysema (22), or other diseases including cystic fibrosis, pul monary fibrosis, silicosis, and sarcoidosis (19). Actuarial survival f or double-lung and heart-lung transplant recipients was 66% and 72% at 1 year and 57% and 53% at 3 years, respectively. Forty-two patients w ere still alive 6 months after operation, and we studied their pulmona ry function at the short and long term. All parameters except arterial carbon dioxide tension had improved dramatically at 6 months (p < 0.0 001). Vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of vital capacity were at 79 % +/- 3%, 92% +/- 5%, and 105% +/- 8% of the predicted values, respect ively. Arterial oxygen tension was 88 +/- 3 mm Hg. Nine months after o peration, a slight decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 second an d forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of vital capacity ap peared but values remained more than 75% predicted. This was related t o the occurrence of obliterative bronchiolitis in 6 patients (14%). At 9 months, flow rates and oxygen tension of these 6 patients were high ly different from those of patients free of obliterative bronchiolitis (p < 0.0002 for flow rates and p < 0.01 for oxygen tension). Only 1 p atient required retransplantation. The others are living an almost nor mal life. Our results are discussed in view of the published reports o n single-lung transplantation. Short-term results of bilateral lung tr ansplantation are thus excellent and maintained on a long-term basis. Therefore, in our opinion, bilateral lung transplantation is the thera py of choice for pulmonary hypertension and emphysema.