Objective: Compare the influence of two preservation liquids, Euro-Collins (EC) and Perfadex (P) in the pulmonary graft function in the initial phase of lung transplant in humans.
Design: Retrospective study.
Scope: Lung transplant unit of the ICU of a university hospital.
Patients: A total of 79 patients were subjected to a transplant of both lungs. The pulmonary grafts were preserved with EC in 23 cases and with P in 56 cases.
Variables of interest: Pulmonary function was assessed on admission in the intensive care unit (ICU) with the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. Mortality, graft dysfunction stay in ICU and time of mechanical ventilation were also assessed at 30 days.
Results: The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly greater in the P group than in the EC both on admission (p<0.006) and at 12 hours (p=0.032) in the ICU. Graft dysfunction incidence was less in group P than in EC (p<0.045). There were no differences in regards to mortality at 30 days, stay in ICU and time of mechanical ventilation between both groups.
Conclusion: Preservation of the pulmonary graft with P as preservation liquid compared with EC is associated with better graft function in the initial phases of transplant of both lungs and with a decrease in the incidence of graft dysfunction.