Bilateral lung transplant with pulmonary artery reconstruction using donor aorta for pulmonary hypertension with a giant pulmonary arterial aneurysm

Abstract

Background Standard bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) is not feasible for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) complicated with a giant pulmonary arterial aneurysm (PAA). This study aimed to describe the outcomes of BLT with pulmonary artery reconstruction (PAR) using donor aorta for such patients. Methods This is a retrospective single-center study reviewing PAH patients with a PAA who received BLT with PAR using donor aorta from January 2010 through December 2020. We compared the characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes of recipients receiving PAR (PAR group) with those who had no PAA and received standard BLT (non-PAR group). Results Nineteen adult PAH patients underwent cadaveric lung transplantation during the study period. Among them, 5 patients with a giant PAA (median pulmonary artery trunk diameter, 69.9 mm) underwent BLT with PAR using donor aorta and the others received standard BLT. Although the operation time tended to be longer in the PAR group compared with the non-PAR group (1239 vs 958 mins, p = 0.087), 90-day mortality (PAR group: 0% vs non-PAR group: 14.3%, p > 0.99) and 5-year survival rate (PAR group: 100% vs non-PAR group: 85.7%, p = 0.74) was comparable between the groups. No dilatation, constriction or infection of the aortic grafts were recorded during the study period with a median follow-up time of 94 months in PAR group. Conclusions Lung transplantation with PAR using donor aorta is a valid surgical option for PAH patients complicated with a giant PAA.