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Clearance of Pulmonary Secretions After Lung Transplantation

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Book cover Difficult Decisions in Cardiothoracic Critical Care Surgery

Part of the book series: Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach ((DDSURGERY))

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Abstract

Lung transplantation is a well established treatment option for selected patients with endstage pulmonary diseases (Weill et al., J Heart Lung Transplant. 2015;34(1):1–15). Bronchial and pulmonary secretions after lung transplantation are a common cause of post-operative morbidity for recipients (Duarte and Lick, Chest Surg Clin N Am. 2002;12(2):397–416). Their clinical impact may frequently be underestimated and this can lead to significant complications. Consequently, patients may experience potential delays in their overall recovery after lung transplantation. As outcomes after lung transplantation have significantly improved over the last decade, this complex therapeutic strategy has become more prevalent (Chambers et al., J Heart Lung Transplant. 2017;36:1047–1059). With increasing clinical encounters with these challenging patients, it is essential for critical care physicians and allied providers to have applied knowledge and adequate skill sets to support lung recipients during the recovery. This is particularly important in the immediate post-operative phase and crucial after extubation. This review defines such pulmonary secretions and the pathophysiology involved. We provide a review of the applicable evidence available in this context.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lung Transplant Program, Advocate Health Care Chicago, Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL, USA

    Christopher H. Wigfield, Ankeeta Mehta & Charles Alex

Authors
  1. Christopher H. Wigfield
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  2. Ankeeta Mehta
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Correspondence to Christopher H. Wigfield .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Vassyl A. Lonchyna

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Wigfield, C.H., Mehta, A., Alex, C. (2019). Clearance of Pulmonary Secretions After Lung Transplantation. In: Lonchyna, V. (eds) Difficult Decisions in Cardiothoracic Critical Care Surgery. Difficult Decisions in Surgery: An Evidence-Based Approach. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04146-5_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04146-5_27

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04146-5

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