LUNG TRANSPLANTATION AT THE UNIVERSITY-OF-LUND 1990-1995 - ANALYSIS OF THE FIRST 39 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

Between 1990 and 1995 39 patients were lung transplanted at the Univer sity Hospital in Lund. This is a retrospective review of survival and lung function in these patients. There were 17 single-lung transplants (SLT), 21 double-lung transplants (DLT) and 1 heart-lung transplant ( HLT). Seven patients died during the period, giving an overall surviva l of 82%. One-year survival according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysi s was 87%, and 2-year survival was 83%. Vital capacity and forced expi ratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) 1 year after transplantation were 91% and 100% of predicted, respectively, in the DLT group and 60% and 50% in t he SLT group. Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) developed in 11 of the 35 patients (31%) surviving more than 6 months, 2/21 in the DLT group and 8/13 in the SLT group and in the patient with HLT. The medi an time until detection of BOS was 11 months after the operation (rang e 6-18 months). Working capacity 1 year after transplantation was 60% of predicted in the DLT group and 47% of predicted in the SLT group. V entilatory capacity was no longer function limiting. Lung transplantat ion today is a therapeutic option with a good medium-term survival and good functional results in selected patients with severe lung disease .