The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · May 2007
ReviewPotential refinements of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation primary graft dysfunction grading system.
Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation and The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Working Group on PGD has recently reported standardized consensus criteria, based on the recipient arterial blood-gas analysis and chest X-ray findings, to define PGD and determine its severity (grade range, 0-3). The grading system has been shown to predict post-transplant outcomes; however, further evaluation and refinement of the validity of the grading system is an important next step to enhance its utility. ⋯ The suggested revisions are (1) additional assessment time points at 6 and 12 hours should be included, (2) only bilateral infiltrates on chest X-ray (not unilateral infiltrates) should be considered as an infiltrate in bilateral lung transplants, (3) information from the chest X-ray is useful within 6 hours of final lung reperfusion (T0) but is not necessary to classify grade 3 at 12 to 72 hours, (4) apply PGD grade to single and bilateral lung transplant separately, (5) all extubated patients should be considered as grade 0 to 1, (6) note if PGD grade is being defined by specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, including extubation, with clear chest X-ray, on nitric oxide or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Although, further evaluations of the PGD definition and grading system are needed, the suggested refinements in this review may further enhance the reliability and validity of the PGD grading system as an important new lung transplant study instrument.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · May 2007
N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide as a marker for detecting low functional class patients and candidates for cardiac transplantation: linear correlation with exercise tolerance.
N-terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT Pro BNP) plasma levels have been associated with indices of left ventricular (LV) function and aerobic capacity in heart failure. The aim of our study was to use NT Pro BNP for the prediction of low functional class patients and also to detect candidates for cardiac transplantation. ⋯ NT Pro BNP plasma levels correlate both with LVEF and aerobic capacity, can predict low functional cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with impaired left ventricular function, and are useful for detecting candidates for cardiac transplantation.
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J. Heart Lung Transplant. · May 2007
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation: analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry.
Some patients with severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) after lung transplantation (LTx) require gas exchange support using an extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) as a life-saving therapy. A few single-center experiences have been reported with relatively few cases of ECMO after LTx. ⋯ Although the ELSO registry was not primarily established to study ECMO in LTx, it provides valuable insights and evidence that there is indeed an appreciable salvage rate with the use of ECMO for PGD after LTx. Clearly, this is a very high-risk patient population, and no single center can accumulate a large experience of ECMO for this specific indication. These data, however, underscore the importance of developing a specific registry for patients put on ECLS devices so that we can better study the outcomes, determine optimum treatment strategies, and optimize patient and device selection, and thus improve the outcomes of patients requiring this unique therapy.
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Inotropic therapy is a well-established practice for children with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF). Traditionally, children have been maintained on inotropic therapy in the hospital under close, monitored supervision. Changes to UNOS listing criteria now allow patients awaiting heart transplantation to be discharged to home yet maintain 1B status. In adults, home inotropic therapy has been shown to be a safe and cost-effective bridge to transplantation. To date, there are limited data on the use of home inotropic therapy in children. ⋯ Based on this initial review, continuous home inotropic therapy in children with CHF is safe with few complications. Home inotropic therapy may result in substantial cost-savings and improve family dynamics by avoiding prolonged hospitalization.