Gas exchange function one month after transplantation of lungs topically cooled for 2 hours in the non-heart-beating cadaver after failed resuscitation

BACKGROUND: If lungs from subjects dying of heart attacks could be used for transplantation, the lung donor shortage could be radically reduced. The aim of this study was to investigate, in an experimental survival model, the results of lung transplantation using lungs from non-heart-beating donors. METHODS: The left lung, topically cooled to 25 degrees C for 2 hours in situ after 5 minutes of circulatory arrest and 26 minutes of unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, was transplanted into a syngeneic rat. Five weeks after the transplantation, right pneumonectomy was performed and blood gases measured every 10 minutes for 1 hour. Comparison were made with two control groups, one where fresh donor lungs were transplanted and another where only right pneumonectomy was done. RESULTS: All animals survived and were in good condition at the end of the observation period. There was no statistically significant difference in arterial oxygen or carbon dioxide tension between the groups. The bronchial anastomoses showed normal healing in all cases. CONCLUSION: Lungs from non-heart-beating donors topically cooled in situ to 25 degrees C for 2 hours before being harvested showed excellent gas exchange and bronchial healing 5 weeks after transplantation.