Double lung procurement from a donor supported by a left ventricular assist device

Abstract

Over the past several years, the selection criteria for marginal donor lungs have been extended. However, brain-dead patients with implanted mechanical circulatory support systems have not yet been considered as potential organ donors for lung transplantation. Our report presents the first successful procurement and transplantation of donor lungs from a patient supported by a left ventricular assist device. The procurement of the lungs demanded an extensive and careful anatomical preparation of the device, the heart, the lung and the mediastinum. The donor lungs were of good quality. The subsequent sequential bilateral lung transplantation was performed without complications. Postoperative course and follow-up were uneventful. This case demonstrates the feasibility of lung transplantations from organ donors supported by a mechanical circulatory support system. © 2014 The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.