Pulmonary transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis. Report of results obtained in Clinica Puerta de Hierro (Madrid) and Hospital LaFe (Valencia)

Retrospective analysis of cystic fibrosis patients who underwent pulmonary transplantation at Clinica Puerta de Hierro, Madrid, and at Hospital La Fe, Valencia. Since the beginning of the programme and until March 1998, a total of 63 pa tients with cystic fibrosis were studied, Among transplanted patients, 18 w ere males and 16 females, with a mean age of 18.9 years, All patients under went sequential bilateral pulmonary transplantation. After transplantation, the most common complication was bacterial pneumonia which affected all pa tients. Six patients had dehiscence or stenosis of the bronchial suture. Ot her specific complications of this condition by frequency were intestinal o bstruction and diabetes mellitus, Six patients developed obliterans bronchi olitis and one of them underwent a repeat transplantation. Three out of the 34 patients died, and the likelihood of survival after one and three years was 94%, Respiratory function tests and PaO2 peaked at sixth post-transpla ntation month. Conclusion: pulmonary transplantation is a therapeutic option to be conside red for the patient with cystic fibrosis and severe involvement of his/her pulmonary disease.