Lung transplantation

Desde o primeiro transplante pulmonar bem sucedido na década de 80, essa se tornou uma terapia bem estabelecida para pacientes com pneumopatia crônica não-neoplásica em estágio terminal. São pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, fibrose pulmonar idiopática, fibrose cística e hipertensão pulmonar primária em um estágio no qual a terapia clínica não é mais efetiva. Atualmente, são cerca de 150 centros em todo o mundo realizando mais de 2500 transplantes de pulmão todo ano. O aprimoramento das técnicas cirúrgicas e anestésicas, bem como dos cuidados perioperatórios (terapia intensiva, imunossupressão, profilaxia de infecções) contribuíram para aumentar a sobrevida e a qualidade de vida dos pacientes transplantados. Nessa revisão, abordaremos os critérios de seleção de doadores e receptores, e as técnicas de preservação pulmonar atualmente utilizadas. Também discutiremos a técnica operatória adotada em nossa instituição para a extração e o implante dos órgãos. Por fim, citaremos as estatísticas mais recentes divulgadas pela International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, incluindo todos os transplantes realizados até o primeiro semestre de 2008.Since the first successful lung transplantation in the early 1980s, it has become the mainstay of therapy for patients with end-stage chronic non-neoplastic lung diseases. These are patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and primary pulmonary hypertension in an advanced stage with no effective response to medical therapy. Currently, there are about 150 centers around the world performing more than 2500 lung transplants each year. The improvement of surgical and anesthetic techniques, as well as perioperative care (intensive care, immunosuppression, infection prophylaxis) has contributed to increase survival and quality of life of lung recipients. In this review we will discuss the selection criteria of donors and recipients, and techniques of lung preservation currently used. We will also discuss the surgical technique adopted in our institution for harvesting and implantation of the lungs. Finally, we will quote the latest statistics released by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, including all transplants performed up to the first half of 2008

Ex vivo lung evaluation and reconditioning

OBJETIVO: Apenas 15% dos pulmões doados são aproveitados para transplante. Um novo método de Perfusão Pulmonar Ex Vivo (PPEV) foi desenvolvido e pode ser usado para avaliação e recondicionamento de pulmões "marginais" e rejeitados para o transplante. Esse trabalho relata nossa experiência com a avaliação funcional da PPEV. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados pulmões de 12 doadores considerados inapropriados para transplante pulmonar. Após a captação, os pulmões são perfundidos ex vivo com Steen Solution, uma solução de composição eletrolítica extracelular com alta pressão coloidosmótica. Um oxigenador de membrana ligado ao circuito recebe uma mistura gasosa (nitrogênio e dióxido de carbono) e "desoxigena" o perfusato, mantendo uma concentração de gases semelhante a do sangue venoso. Os pulmões são gradualmente aquecidos, perfundidos e ventilados. A avaliação dos órgãos é feita por gasometrias e medidas como a resistência vascular pulmonar (RVP) e complacência pulmonar (CP). RESULTADOS: A PaO2 (FiO2 100%) passou de um valor médio de 193,3 mmHg no doador para 495,3 mmHg durante a PPEV. Após uma hora de PPEV, a RVP média era de 737,3 dinas/seg/ cm5 e a CP era de 42,2 ml/cmH2O. CONCLUSÕES: O modelo de avaliação pulmonar ex vivo pode melhorar a capacidade de oxigenação de pulmões "marginais" inicialmente rejeitados para transplante. Isso denota um grande potencial do método para aumentar a disponibilidade de pulmões para transplante e, possivelmente, reduzir o tempo de espera nas filas.OBJECTIVE: Only about 15% of the potential candidates for lung donation are considered suitable for transplantation. A new method for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has been developed and can be used for evaluation and reconditioning of "marginal" and unacceptable lungs. This is a report of functional evaluation experience with ex vivo perfusion of twelve donor lungs deemed unacceptable in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: After harvesting, the lungs are perfused ex vivo with Steen Solution, an extra-cellular solution with high colloid osmotic pressure. A membrane oxygenator connected to the circuit receives gas from a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and maintains a normal mixed venous blood gas level in the perfusate. The lungs are gradually rewarmed, reperfused and ventilated. They are evaluated through analyses of oxygenation capacity, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), lung compliance (LC). RESULTS: The arterial oxygen pressure (with inspired oxygen fractions of 100%) increased from a mean of 193.3 mmHg in the organ donor at the referring hospital to a mean of 495.3 mmHg during the ex vivo evaluation. After 1 hour of EVLP, mean PVR was 737.3 dynes/sec/cm5, and mean LC was 42.2 ml/cmH2O. CONCLUSIONS: The ex vivo evaluation model can improve oxygenation capacity of "marginal" lungs rejected for transplantation. It has a great potential to increase lung donor availability and, possibly, to reduce the waiting time on the list.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FarmoterápicaBraile Biomédic

Current morbimortality and one-year survival after pneumonectomy for infectious diseases

Objective: Identify the one-year survival rate and major complications in patients submitted to pneumonectomy for infectious disease. Methods: Retrospective data from all cases of infectious disease pneumonectomy over the past 10 years were collected from two reference centers. The authors analyzed: patient demographics, etiology, laterality, bronchial stump treatment, presence of previous pulmonary resection, postoperative complications in the first 30 days, the treatment used in pleural complications, and one-year survival rate. Results: 56 procedures were performed. The average age was 44 years, with female predominance (55%). 29 cases were operated on the left side (51%) and the most frequent etiology was post-tuberculosis (51.8%). The overall incidence of complications was 28.6% and the most common was empyema (19.2%). Among empyema cases, 36.3% required pleurostomy, 27.3% required pleuroscopy and 36.3% underwent thoracoplasty for treatment. Bronchial stump fistula was observed in 10.7% of cases. From all cases, 16.1% were completion pneumonectomies and 62.5% of these had some complication, a significantly higher incidence than patients without previous surgery (p = 0.0187). 30-day in-hospital mortality was (7.1%) with 52 cases (92.9%) and 1-year survival. The causes of death were massive postoperative bleeding (1 case) and sepsis (3 cases). Conclusions: Pneumonectomy for benign disease is a high-risk procedure performed for a variety of indications. While morbidity is often significant, once the perioperative risk has passed, the one-year survival rate can be very satisfying in selected patients with benign disease

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure &lt;= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Comparison between lung preservation solutions Perfadex and LPD-G with a ex vivo lung perfusion model

INTRODUÇÃO: As técnicas de preservação pulmonar visam a melhorar a qualidade do enxerto e aumentar sua tolerância ao período de isquemia fria. A técnica mais usada atualmente consiste na perfusão da artéria pulmonar com Perfadex. O alto custo associado à importação dessa solução e as dificuldades logísticas dos portos e aeroportos brasileiros com relação a materiais médicohospitalares têm causado problemas para os centros de transplante pulmonar brasileiros. Daí a necessidade de uma solução de preservação pulmonar produzida no Brasil. O objetivo desse estudo é comparar a solução Perfadex com a solução de fabricação nacional LPD-G, quanto ao grau de lesão de isquemia-reperfusão, em um modelo de perfusão pulmonar ex vivo (PPEV). MÉTODOS: Foram usados doadores em morte cerebral, cujos pulmões foram recusados. Cada caso era incluído aleatoriamente em um dos grupos: Grupo 1, a preservação pulmonar era realizada com Perfadex, e Grupo 2, era usado o LPD-G, solução fabricada no Brasil com composição idêntica a do Perfadex. Após a captação, os pulmões eram armazenados a 4 °C por 10 horas. A reperfusão ocorria em um sistema de PPEV, no qual o bloco pulmonar era ventilado e perfundido por uma solução acelular a 37 °C por 60 minutos. A lesão de isquemia-reperfusão era medida através de parâmetros funcionais (gasometria, resistência vascular pulmonar, complacência pulmonar, relação peso úmido/peso seco) e histológicos. Foram feitas biópsias pulmonares em 3 tempos: antes da captação, após o período de isquemia fria e depois da reperfusão. Vários critérios foram usados (edema alveolar, edema intersticial, hemorragia etc.) para criar um Escore de Lesão Pulmonar (ELP). A contagem de células apoptóticas foi feita usando a metodologia TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling). RESULTADOS: Após a reperfusão, a capacidade de oxigenação média foi de 405,3 mmHg no Grupo 1 e 406,0 mmHg no Grupo 2 (p = 0,98). A mediana da resistência vascular pulmonar nos pulmões do Grupo 1 foi de 697,6 dina.s.cm-5, enquanto no Grupo 2, esse valor foi de 378,3 dina.s.cm-5 (p = 0,035). A complacência pulmonar média ao final da reperfusão foi de 46,8 cmH2O no Grupo 1 e de 49,3 ml/cmH2O no Grupo 2 (p = 0,816). A razão entre o peso úmido e o peso seco foi em média 2,06 e 2,02 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 0,87). Na biópsia realizada após reperfusão, o ELP médio foi de 4,37 e 4,37 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 1,0); a contagem de células apoptóticas foi de 118,75/mm2 e 137,50/mm2 nos Grupos 1 e 2, respectivamente (p = 0,71). CONCLUSÕES: A qualidade da preservação pulmonar obtida com a solução LPD-G nacional é semelhante a obtida com o Perfadex. A aplicação clínica da nova solução pode reduzir custos, facilitando a manutenção e a abertura de centros de transplante pulmonarINTRODUCTION: Pulmonary preservation techniques aim at improving graft quality and increasing tolerance during reperfusion and cold ischemia times. Currently, the most used technique consists of pulmonary artery anterograde perfusion with Perfadex. The high cost associated with the importation of this solution and the logistical difficulties of our ports and airports regarding medical supplies have caused problems for lung transplant centers in Brazil. Therefore there is need for a preservation solution manufactured in Brazil. The aim of this study is to compare the pulmonary preservation solutions Perfadex and LPD-G manufactured in Brazil in an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) model. METHODS: Donors with brain death, whose lungs had been declined by transplantation teams were used. Cases were randomized into two groups: in Group 1, Perfadex was used for pulmonary preservation. In Group 2, LPDnac, a solution manufactured in Brazil and whose compositon is identical to Perfadex, was used. After harvesting, lungs were stored at 4 °C for 10 hours. An EVLP system was used and the pulmonary block was ventilated and perfused by an acellular solution at 37 °C for 60 minutes. Ischemic-reperfusion injury was measured by functional (blood gas, pulmonary vascular resistance, lung compliance, wet/dry weight ratio) and histological parameters. Pulmonary biopsies were performed at three time points: before harvesting, 10 hours after cold ischemia and 60 minutes after reperfusion. Samples were prepared for light microscopy analysis. Several criteria were used (alveolar edema, interstitial edema, hemorrhage etc.) to create a lung injury score (LIS). Apoptotic cell count was carried out using the TUNEL methodology (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling). RESULTS: After reperfusion, mean oxygenation capacity was 406.0 mmHg in Group 2 and 405.3 mmHg in Group 1 (p = 0.98). Mean pulmonary vascular resistance in Group 2 lungs was 378.3 dina.s.cm-5, whereas in Group 1 it was 697.6 dina.s.cm-5 (p = 0.035). Mean pulmonary compliance by the end of reperfusion was 49.3 ml/cmH2O in Group 2 and 46.8 cmH2O in Group 1 (p = 0.816). Mean wet/dry weight ratio was 2.02 and 2.06 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p = 0.87). Mean LIS for the biopsy performed after reperfusion was 4.37 and 4.37 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p= 1.0); apoptotic cell count was 137.50/mm2 and 118.75/mm2 in Groups 2 and 1, respectively (p = 0.71). CONCLUSION: The preservation solution manufactured in Brazil proved to be as good as Perfadex. The clinical application for the new solution may reduce costs, favoring the maintenance and opening of pulmonary transplantation center

Use of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica Mill) replacing corn on carcass characteristics and non-carcass components in Santa Inês lambs Utilização da palma forrageira (Opuntia fícus-indica Mill) em substituição ao milho sobre as características de carcaça e componentes não constituintes da carcaça de cordeiros da raça Santa Inês

The objective of this study was to evaluate the biometric and morphometric measures, regional composition, carcass characteristics and non-carcass components of Santa Inês lambs submitted to levels of corn replaced by cactus pear in the diet. It was used 45 Santa Ines non-castrated male lambs, with average initial live weight of 25.50 ± 0.48 kg as a completely randomized block design with five treatments (0; 25; 50; 70 and 100%) and nine replicates. There was an effect of the diet on slaughter weight, empty body weight, hot and cold carcass, cold carcass weight, shoulder weight and loin weight. Cactus pear can replace up to 75% of corn in diets for feedlot Santa Inês lambs, without compromising production, carcass characteristics and production of non-carcass components.O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar as medidas biométricas e morfométricas, a composição regional, as características de carcaça e os componentes não constituintes da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês, submetidos a níveis de substituição do milho por palma forrageira na dieta. Foram utilizados 45 cordeiros não-castrados da raça Santa Inês com peso vivo inicial de 25,0 ± 0,48 kg, distribuídos em delineamento de blocos ao acaso com cinco tratamentos (0; 25; 50; 75 e 100%) e nove repetições. Houve efeito da dieta sobre o peso ao abate, peso do corpo vazio, peso de carcaça quente e fria, peso da paleta e peso do lombo. A palma forrageira pode substituir até 75% do milho em dietas para cordeiros da raça santa Inês em confinamento, sem comprometer a produção, as características da carcaça e a produção de componentes não constituintes da carcaça