Utilizing computed tomography volumetry for size matching prior to lung transplantation: a case series

• Published in: Journal of thoracic disease Vol. 15; no. 4; pp. 2233 - 2239
• Main Authors: Shepherd, Hailey M, Farahnak, Khashayar, Harrison, M Shea, Frye, C Corbin, Marklin, Gary F, Bierhals, Andrew J, Hachem, Ramsey R, Witt, Chad A, Guillamet, Rodrigo V, Byers, Derek E, Kozower, Benjamin D, Meyers, Bryan F, Nava, Ruben G, Patterson, G Alexander, Kreisel, Daniel, Puri, Varun
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 28.04.2023
• ISSN: 2072-1439
• DOI: 10.21037/jtd-22-1203

BackgroundAppropriate size matching between donor and recipient is critical for successful pulmonary transplantation. Although surrogate measurements such as height and gender are often utilized to approximate predicted lung volume, these methods provide only a gross estimation with wide variability and poor predictive value. Case DescriptionA single center exploratory study was conducted in which four patients underwent lung transplantation (LT) with pre-operative computed tomography (CT) volumetry obtained in both the donor and recipient to facilitate decision making regarding organ size and suitability. In four cases in which CT volumetry was used, the lung volumes calculated using surrogate measurements significantly overestimated both donor and recipient lung volumes quantified by CT volumetric analysis. All recipients underwent successful LT without necessary graft downsizing. ConclusionsThis is an initial report of prospectively utilizing CT volumetry as an adjunct to decision-making regarding suitability of donor lungs. In these cases, CT volumetry facilitated the confident acceptance of donor lungs that were initially predicted to be oversized based on other clinical measures.