Single-lung transplantation in emphysema: Retrospective study analyzing survival and waiting list mortality

Core Tip

Core tip: This is a retrospective and comparative study of 2 cohort of patients with advanced-stage emphysema who were performed uni or bilateral lung transplant. The results of this study support the realization of single-lung transplantation in most of the cases of emphysema because it is technically simpler, it has less risk of surgical sutures, and finally it has less immediate postoperative complications. Single and double lung transplantation has a similar long-term survival. Moreover, if a second transplant is needed in the long-term, the contralateral transplantation has the same initial transplant survival if the patient remains in a similar clinical situation. Survival Spanish national register does not show difference between the two techniques too, supporting the results of our relatively small series. This strategy of performing single lung transplantation in most of the cases of emphysema would encourage and enhance the use of donors thanks to the twining procedure, and would decrease mortality in the waiting list as shown in the National Transplant Organization patients analysed. Proper pre and postoperative prophylaxis and postoperative early extubation protocol is essential to achieve good results.