Nitric Oxide Proves Effective in Treating Serious Complications Associated With Lung Transplantation

Transplantation in Conjunction With Existing Therapies Has a Therapeutic Effect and Will Help Save Lives According to Findings Presented During The 35th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 27 -- Nitric oxide delivered immediately and continuously to patients after lung transplantation prevents and helps treat a serious side effect that often leads to death according to research presented today during the 35th Annual Meeting of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.

Drs. Abbas Ardehali and Paul Waters, thoracic surgeons with UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA, and colleagues, studied the effectiveness of providing nitric oxide to 21 patients immediately after lung transplantation to combat an extremely serious complication. This complication called reperfusion injury can occur when the new lungs begin to function in the patient receiving the transplant.

Of the patients participating in the study, 16 did not experience reperfusion injuries. These 16 patients were weaned from nitric oxide and mechanical ventilation within 24 hours after transplantation. One of these 16 patients died from pneumonia within 30 days after the transplant.

The remaining five patients developed reperfusion injury. Patients who developed the injury were kept on nitric oxide until their lungs fully recovered. One patient in this group, after recovering from their reperfusion injury, developed a complication and died from an infection.

Dr. Ardehali adds, "We are very excited by our findings. Even though some patients experienced a reperfusion injury, we were able to clearly demonstrate that these patients benefited significantly from the administration of nitric oxide. We believe our study indicates that the administration of nitric oxide immediately to patients receiving lung transplants may be an important way to improve survival and provide better function following this life-saving procedure."

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is the membership society for thoracic surgeons in the United States. With over 4,100 members, the society represents the surgical practice areas of cardiac surgery (heart), general thoracic surgery (lung, esophagus, and mediastinum), pediatric thoracic surgery, and transplant surgery. The society is committed to saving, extending, and improving the quality of life for all Americans.