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Pulmonary thromboembolism as a complication of lung transplantation
Author(s) -
Kristensen Anna Warncke,
Mortensen Jann,
Berg Ronan M. G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12922
Subject(s) - medicine , lung transplantation , transplantation , complication , surgery , lung , respiratory failure
Post‐transplantation mortality after lung transplantation ( LTX ) is higher than for other solid organ transplantations. Thoracic surgery is associated with increased risk of thromboembolic complications, and as LTX recipients lack the collateral bronchial circulation, pulmonary thromboembolism ( PTE ) may represent a pertinent yet largely underdiagnosed cause of post‐transplantation respiratory failure. In this systematic review, we sought to elucidate the occurrence and predilection site of PTE after LTX , and its potential impact on LTX ‐associated mortality. Based on twelve original articles identified by a systematic search strategy in PubMed, we found that PTE was reported in 4% of LTX recipients, and 38% of these events occurred within the first 30 days after the LTX procedure. In single‐lung transplantation ( SLTX ) recipients, 12% were diagnosed with PTE , with 92% of these affecting the allograft. Of LTX patients diagnosed with PTE , 11% died within 1 year after LTX and 75% of these deaths occurred within the first 30 days. Our findings suggest that PTE is a potentially underdiagnosed cause of early post‐ LTX respiratory failure. This should be confirmed in larger studies with systematic follow‐up diagnostic imaging.