Surgical Technique of Double Lung Transplantation

Abstract

Our success with unilateral lung transplantation stimulated our interest in providing transplants for patients with end stage lung disease not deemed appropriate for unilateral transplant (Chapter 46). This included patients with end stage lung disease secondary to emphysema and to bilateral sepsis, such as cystic fibrosis. In the case of emphysema, we were concerned that unilateral lung transplantation would lead to over-inflation of the contralateral lung, with media stinal shift and restricted ventilation to the transplanted lung. With bilateral sepsis, the remaining lung would serve as a focus for contamination of the transplanted lung.