Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV, USA
Research Article
The University of North Carolina Heart-Lung Transplant Experience: Historical Perspective and Notes on Surveillance for Very Long-Term Survivors
Author(s): Audrey L. Khoury, Eric G. Jernigan, Jennifer S. Nelson, Paula D. Strassle, Vincent J. Gonzalez, Luma Essaid, Muntasir H. Chowdhury, Jason M. Long and Mahesh S. Sharma*
Background: The University of North Carolina (UNC) pioneered heart-lung transplant (HLT) in the state of North Carolina in 1991. Specific guidelines for surveillance of very long-term survivors of HLT are non-existent. We report historical context for the UNC 30-year experience with HLT, complexity of subsequent medical care, and a standardized approach to follow-up.
Methods: The medical and UNOS records for all patients who underwent HLT at UNC were reviewed. Demographics, perioperative details, and post-transplant medication regimens were abstracted. Early (30 day) and late (>30 days post HLT) morbidity was described, and Kaplan-Meier curves estimated long-term survival.
Results: Overall, 15 patients (67% male, 73% adults) underwent HLT, and 80% had congenital heart disease. Five-, twenty-, and twenty-five-year su.. View more»