Lung Transplant Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Lung Transplant, including details on risks, prognosis, procedure, surgery, organ donation.

Urgent contralateral pneumonectomy after single lung transplantation for lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Voltolini L, Luzzi L, Paladini P, Biagioli B, Rottoli P, Gotti G

Thoracic Surgery Unit, University Hospital of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Left single lung transplantation in a 33-year-old woman affected by end-stage lymphangioleiomyomatosis was complicated by spontaneous and diffuse bleeding from the right lung at the end of the procedure. The right lung was completely deteriorated and the only option to stop the bleeding was a right pneumonectomy. At 14 months after transplantation, the single allograft showed good lung function with acceptable volumes. Single lung transplant and contralateral pneumonectomy can be considered a safe procedure in case of complications related to native lung either in case of lymphangioleiomyomatosis than for other lung diseases (emphysema, cystic fibrosis).

Published 24 November 2005 in Ann Thorac Surg, 80(6): 2349-51.
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