Heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation in the first year of life

Ann Thorac Surg. 1992 Feb;53(2):306-10. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(92)91338-a.

Abstract

Seventeen infants less than 1 year of age have undergone heart (12), heart-lung (3), and lung (2) transplantation for end-stage cardiopulmonary disease. The infants undergoing heart transplantation had a mean age of 4.5 months (range, 19 days to 12 months) with the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy in 4 and congenital heart disease in 8. Four of the 8 patients (50%) had hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Actuarial survival at 1 and 2 years was 74% and compared favorably with the survival of older children at 1 and 2 years of 82% and 69%. The linearized rejection rate was less in infants as compared with children more than 1 year of age (0.61 versus 1.48 episodes per 100 patient days). In intermediate follow-up, no graft atherosclerosis has been noted. Immunosuppression has included a three-drug protocol of cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone. A steroid taper to alternate day steroids or off completely by 6 months has been the goal and has been accomplished in 6 of 12 infants. Heart-lung and lung transplantation has been performed in 5 infants. One infant in each group died: 1 infant secondary to airway complications and sepsis and another due to pulmonary sepsis. A pulmonary lobe from a larger and older donor was transplanted into a 4-week-old infant as a single-lung transplant with good outcome. The 3 surviving infants are well 24, 18, and 2 months after transplantation. Obliterative bronchiolitis has not been clinically apparent in this group. These data support the clinical efficacy of heart, heart-lung, and lung transplantation in the first year of life.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actuarial Analysis
  • Cause of Death
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Rejection*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Heart Transplantation* / mortality
  • Heart-Lung Transplantation / mortality
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Postoperative Complications

Substances

  • Cyclosporine