| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|||||||||
Ann Thorac Surg 1983;36:700-705
© 1983 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
From the Departments of Surgery and Medicine, Divisions of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Infectious Disease, University of Arizona, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ
Accepted for publication January 10, 1983.
* Address reprint requests to Dr. Mammana, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona, Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85724
Eighteen serious pulmonary infections have been encountered in 10 of 16 surviving cardiac transplant recipients. Fourteen of 18 infections (78%) occurred within the first six months after transplant and the remaining 4 (22%) after the first six months (p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the number of rejections per patient and propensity toward infection.
Transtracheal aspiration or percutaneous lung aspiration established the diagnosis in all but two episodes. Percutaneous lung aspiration appeared more accurate as a diagnostic tool but was associated with 6 complications in 13 attempts (46%), while no complications occurred in 17 attempts with transtracheal aspiration (p < 0.05).
Five of the 10 patients had multiple episodes of pulmonary infection; 2 of these 5 (40%) had concurrent infections. Nocardia organisms were encountered most frequently, accounting for 7 of 18 (39%) infections; 6 of 10 patients (60%) were infected with Nocardia at some point after transplant. Nine of 10 patients (90%) were cured of infection. Eight are still alive without evidence of infection.
We conclude from these data that pulmonary infection is common in transplant recipients, that early definitive diagnosis, in spite of the potential complications, is warranted, and that cure of infection and long-term survival are possible if treatment is timely and aggressive.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  L. J. Dupont and G. M. Verleden Noninfectious pulmonary complications after organ transplantation Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Diseases, June 28, 2010; 202 - 219. [Abstract] [Fulltext] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 W. T. Miller Jr. and R. M. Shah Isolated Diffuse Ground-Glass Opacity in Thoracic CT: Causes and Clinical Presentations Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2005; 184(2): 613 - 622. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Lenner, M. L. Padilla, A. S. Teirstein, A. Gass, and G. J. Schilero Pulmonary Complications in Cardiac Transplant Recipients Chest, August 1, 2001; 120(2): 508 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Saigenji, M. Kaneko, B. Rhenmen, R. J. Williams, M. A. Vasu, T. B. Icenogle, and J. G. Copeland Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia after heart transplantation Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1991; 52(1): 107 - 111. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. L. Schulman, D. S. Reison, J. H. M. Austin, and E. A. Rose Cytomegalovirus Pneumonitis After Cardiac Transplantation Arch Intern Med, June 1, 1991; 151(6): 1118 - 1124. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. R. Walsh, J. Guttendorf, S. Dummer, R. L. Hardesty, J. M. Armitage, R. L. Kormos, and B. P. Griffith The value of protective isolation procedures in cardiac allograft recipients Ann. Thorac. Surg., April 1, 1989; 47(4): 539 - 545. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. M. HOFFLIN, I. POTASMAN, J. C. BALDWIN, P. E. OYER, E. B. STINSON, and J. S. REMINGTON Infectious Complications in Heart Transplant Recipients Receiving Cyclosporine and Corticosteroids Ann Intern Med, February 1, 1987; 106(2): 209 - 216. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. B. McElvein Open Lung Biopsy Versus Empirical Antibiotic Therapy in the Immunosuppressed Patient Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 1985; 40(5): 419 - 420. [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| ANN THORAC SURG | ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN | EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG |
| J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG | ICVTS | ALL CTSNet JOURNALS |
