Normothermic Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) For An Improved Assessment of Donor Lungs For Transplantation (HELP)

• PGD scores in the first 72 hours after lung transplantation. [ Time Frame: 72 hours ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  Immediate lung function is one of the key factors in determining the impact of donor lung quality, therefore the PGD score within 72 hrs was selected as the primary endpoint.
• 30 day Mortality [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Mortality at 30 days post transplant

• Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation use [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  If the patient needed to be placed on extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation after transplantation.
• Bronchial complications [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  To see if there was an increased risk for bronchial complications
• Ventilator duration [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  How long was the patient on the ventilator after lung transplantation and was there an increased time on ventilator for the patient after EVLP.
• Intensive Care Unit length of stay [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Hospital length of stay [ Time Frame: 30 days ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Time in the hospital

The use of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) will allow for a secondary evaluation technique for donor lungs that fail to meet standard acceptability criteria. This advanced assessment might lead to increased utilization rates of donor lungs and improved outcomes after lung transplantation.

Human donor lungs that do not meet the standard clinical criteria for donor lung utilization but fit into the study inclusion criteria will be retrieved from the donor using current donor lung retrieval techniques.

These lungs will be brought to the study transplant center to be re-assessed by the transplant team. The lungs will be physiologically assessed during ex vivo perfusion with Steen Solution. Perfusion of these lungs will be performed using Steen solution with the addition of methylprednisolone, heparin and antibiotics. With respect to the decision of lung utilization those organs with a delta pO2 (Δ pO2 = Pulmonary vein pO2 - pulmonary artery pO2) during ex vivo perfusion assessment > 350mmHg, good lung compliance, and a favorable opinion of the transplant surgeon will be considered transplantable. Lungs will be excluded for transplantation: if the Δ pO2 is less than 350mmHg or if they demonstrate >10% deterioration in any of the following functional parameters: pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), dynamic compliance or airway pressures. Lungs will also be excluded if they are deemed unsuitable based on the clinical judgment of the lung transplant surgeon.

• Pierre AF, Sekine Y, Hutcheon MA, Waddell TK, Keshavjee SH. Marginal donor lungs: a reassessment. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2002 Mar;123(3):421-7; discussion, 427-8.
• de Perrot M, Liu M, Waddell TK, Keshavjee S. Ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2003 Feb 15;167(4):490-511. Review.
• Cypel M, Rubacha M, Yeung J, Hirayama S, Torbicki K, Madonik M, Fischer S, Hwang D, Pierre A, Waddell TK, de Perrot M, Liu M, Keshavjee S. Normothermic ex vivo perfusion prevents lung injury compared to extended cold preservation for transplantation. Am J Transplant. 2009 Oct;9(10):2262-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2009.02775.x. Epub 2009 Aug 6.
• D.M. Karamanou, H.R. Walden, S. Bean, et al. The Effect of Ex-Vivo Perfusion on the Inflammatory Profile of the Donor Lung. J Heart Lung Transplant 2010:Vol. 29, Issue 2, Supplement, Page S165.
• Inci I, Ampollini L, Arni S, Jungraithmayr W, Inci D, Hillinger S, Leskosek B, Vogt P, Weder W. Ex vivo reconditioning of marginal donor lungs injured by acid aspiration. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2008 Nov;27(11):1229-36. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2008.07.027. Epub 2008 Oct 1.
• Steen S, Sjöberg T, Pierre L, Liao Q, Eriksson L, Algotsson L. Transplantation of lungs from a non-heart-beating donor. Lancet. 2001 Mar 17;357(9259):825-9.
• Ingemansson R, Eyjolfsson A, Mared L, Pierre L, Algotsson L, Ekmehag B, Gustafsson R, Johnsson P, Koul B, Lindstedt S, Lührs C, Sjöberg T, Steen S. Clinical transplantation of initially rejected donor lungs after reconditioning ex vivo. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009 Jan;87(1):255-60. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.09.049.
• Steen S, Ingemansson R, Eriksson L, Pierre L, Algotsson L, Wierup P, Liao Q, Eyjolfsson A, Gustafsson R, Sjöberg T. First human transplantation of a nonacceptable donor lung after reconditioning ex vivo. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007 Jun;83(6):2191-4.
• Cypel M, Yeung JC, Liu M, Anraku M, Chen F, Karolak W, Sato M, Laratta J, Azad S, Madonik M, Chow CW, Chaparro C, Hutcheon M, Singer LG, Slutsky AS, Yasufuku K, de Perrot M, Pierre AF, Waddell TK, Keshavjee S. Normothermic ex vivo lung perfusion in clinical lung transplantation. N Engl J Med. 2011 Apr 14;364(15):1431-40. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1014597.

Inclusion Criteria for donor lung:

1. Recipient to undergo a single or bilateral Lung Transplantation
2. Last donor PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300mmHg
3. Poor oxygenation and/or poor lung compliance is the primary reason for unsuitability
4. Absence of pneumonia, persistent purulent secretion on bronchoscopy or significant mechanical trauma

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Infection
2. Aspiration
3. Significant mechanical lung injury - contusion
4. Infectious diseases : HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV & Syphilis
5. Malignancy