Retrograde in situ versus antegrade pulmonary preservation in clinical lung transplantation: a single-centre experience.

OBJECTIVE Experimental and clinical studies have indicated a beneficial effect of retrograde lung preservation on post-transplant results. Accordingly, we conducted a non-randomized trial. METHODS A total of 209 consecutive recipients transplanted with low-potassium dextrane (LPD)-preserved lungs were eligible for analysis. Antegrade lung preservation (AP) was performed in 173 patients and retrograde in situ perfusion (RP) in 36 patients using low-potassium dextrane solution in all cases. The prostacycline was added to preservation solution. RESULTS The main donor, graft and recipient characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. There was a beneficial trend toward improved o…