Abstract:
Objective To explore the feasibility of ultra-long distance transport of lung from donation after cardiac death (DCD) or donation after brain death (DBD) by civil aviation for lung transplantation.
Methods Clinical data of 6 cases with lung transplantation through ultra-long distance transport of lung from donors by civil aviation in Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from February to March in 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.
Results There were 6 donors who were DBD or DCD. It spent 5.0~8.5 h from lung removal, transport to lung transplantation in the operation room, including 2.0~3.0 h (mileage>1 500 km) for flight. Five cases received sequential double lung transplantation. One case received right single lung transplantation. The operation was conducted successfully, with the lung's cold ischemia time of 7-12 h. After operation, all patients received ventilator assisted breathing, and suspended after 2-4 d. As of the date of submission, 6 cases recovered well.
Conclusions Long distance transport is feasible in the case of conducting sequential double lung transplantation with donor lung from DCD or DBD, if there are direct flights between the two cities of the donor and recipient, and the flight time is within 3 h.