Lung transplantation for acute respiratory distress syndrome: A multicenter experience

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a rapidly progressive lung disease with a high mortality rate. Although lung transplantation (LTx) is a well‐established treatment for a variety of chronic pulmonary diseases, LTx for acute lung failure (due to ARDS) remains controversial. We reviewed posttransplant outcome of ARDS patients from three high‐volume European transplant centers. Demographics and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Viral infection was the main reason for ARDS (n = 7/13, 53.8%). All patients were admitted to ICU and required mechanical ventilation, 11/13 were supported with ECMO at the time of listing. They were granted a median LAS of 76 (IQR 50–85) and waited for a median of 3 days (IQR 1.5–14). Postoperatively, median length of mechanical ventilation was 33 days (IQR 17–52.5), median length of ICU and hospital stay were 39 days (IQR 19.5–58.5) and 54 days (IQR 43.5–127). Prolongation of peripheral postoperative ECMO was required in 7/13 (53.8%) patients with a median duration of 2 days (IQR 2–7). 30‐day mortality was 7.7%, 1 and 5‐year survival rates were calculated as 71.6% and 54.2%, respectively. Given the lack of alternative treatment options, the herein presented results support the concept of offering live‐saving LTx to carefully selected ARDS patients.