Use of Extended-Criteria Lungs on a Lobe-by-Lobe Basis Through Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Assessment

Initially rejected and extended-criteria lungs were partially used through an ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) assessment that was first clinically applied in Asia. The truly injured lobe (left lower lobe) was identified during 89-minute normothermic EVLP and was excised, and the remaining lobes were successfully transplanted into a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis. The lung lobes showed heterogeneous changes on the ex vivo rig, and a brief duration of EVLP helped differentiate lung quality on a lobe-by-lobe basis. (C) 2015 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons