INDUCED HYPOTHERMIA IN CRITICAL RESPIRATORY-FAILURE AFTER LUNG TRANSPLANTATION

Primary graft failure after lung transplantation is a serious complica tion with high mortality. We present 2 cases of critical respiratory f ailure after lung transplantation treated with surface cooling to 32 d egrees and 35 degrees C, respectively, as an adjunct to conventional i ntensive care. Both patients were discharged from the hospital in good clinical condition. Surface cooling may be an effective mode of treat ment in patients with critical respiratory failure after lung transpla ntation and should be considered before extracorporeal membrane oxygen ation treatment is initiated. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surg eons.