Transplantation of the Lung

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Abstract
The technical and physiological problems of lung transplantation have been explored in more than 400 dogs. Lung replantation provides a method for studying the effects of lung transplantation .apart from those introduced by the homograft response. It was found by differential bronchospirometry that the respiratory capacity of the replanted lung was reduced to approximately 1/2 the normal value for almost 2 weeks following operation. Thereafter the function of this lung gradually improved but rarely regained the preoperative level. Storage of the lung at 4[degree] C. for 2 hours, with replantation, was followed by lung survival and reasonably good respiratory capacity of this organ in most animals. However, storage of the lung for longer periods resulted in an increasing evidence of pulmonary edema upon replantation, and death of the animals was common following lung storage for more than 4 hours with replantation. Bronchial lymph channels were found to begin regeneration within 3 or 4 days and to regenerate almost completely by the end of 2 weeks. Homotransplantation of the lung was performed in a large number of dogs. The untreated control animals that survived the immediate postoperative period lived an average of 7 days. Those dogs treated with azathioprine (Imuran) lived an average of 30 days.