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Non‐invasive ventilation in prone position for refractory hypoxemia after bilateral lung transplantation
Author(s) -
Feltracco Paolo,
Serra Eugenio,
Barbieri Stefania,
Persona Paolo,
Rea Federico,
Loy Monica,
Ori Carlo
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1399-0012.2009.01050.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hypoxemia , lung transplantation , refractory (planetary science) , transplantation , prone position , lung , ventilation (architecture) , surgery , cardiology , mechanical engineering , physics , astrobiology , engineering
Temporary graft dysfunction with gas exchange abnormalities is a common finding during the postoperative course of a lung transplant and is often determined by the post‐reimplantation syndrome. Supportive measures including oxygen by mask, inotropes, diuretics, and pulmonary vasodilators are usually effective in non‐severe post‐reimplantation syndromes. However, in less‐responsive clinical pictures, tracheal intubation with positive pressure ventilation, or non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV), is necessary. We report on the clinical course of two patients suffering from refractory hypoxemia due to post‐reimplantation syndrome treated with NIV in the prone and Trendelenburg positions. NIV was well tolerated and led to resolution of atelectactic areas and dishomogeneous lung infiltrates. Repeated turning from supine to prone under non invasive ventilation determined a stable improvement of gas exchange and prevented a more invasive approach. Even though NIV in the prone position has not yet entered into clinical practice, it could be an interesting option to achieve a better match between ventilation and perfusion. This technique, which we successfully applied in lung transplantation, can be easily extended to other lung diseases with non‐recruitable dorso‐basal areas.