Evaluation of lung transplant patients in Imam Khomeini hospital,Tehran university of medical sciences

Despite the progress of medical science and organ transplantation, lung transplantation is associated with significant complications and mortality. In Iran, the first lung transplant was performed in 2000 at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran. So far, there has been no assessment of the patients. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the status of lung transplantation status at this center.

In this retrospective longitudinal study, all lung transplant patients referred to the Lung Transplantation Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran from April 2000 to March 2022 were examined. Demographic and clinical data, and information related to their current status, including pulmonary function tests, transplant-related complications, pharmacotherapy, and drug-related adverse events were recorded. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied.

During the study, 20 lung transplants were observed, 20 percent of transplant recipients were women, and 80 percent were men. The mean age of the patients at the time of transplantation was 39.3±11.4 years. The youngest patient at the time of transplantation was 22, and the oldest was 60 years old. The most common indication for transplantation was interstitial lung disease (70%) followed by chronic obstructive respiratory disease. The average forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) value of the patients in the first year was about 50%, which gradually decreased to less than 20 percent in the fifth year. The average survival after transplantation was 5.75±4.6 years. The post-transplant one month, three months, one year, three years, and five years survival were 80, 75, 70, 60, and 50 percent, respectively. Chronic lung allograft dysfunction and serious infections are the most common causes of mortality.

The transplant center at Imam Khomeini Hospital is one of the most important lung transplant centers in Iran. The survival status and transplant outcome are comparable with those reported around the world. More attention should be paid to infection control, patient selection, and perioperative care to improve the outcomes of lung transplantation.