Management and outcome of obstructive airway complications after lung transplantation – a 12-year retrospective cohort study

Background: Obstructive airway complications (OACs) represent a significant problem after lung transplantation (LTx). Bilateral OACs after double lung transplantation are infrequently reported. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate management and outcome of OAC. Design: Retrospective single-center cohort study Methods: Adult patients with bilateral LTx performed between 2010 and 2021 were included. Patients with follow-ups of less than 3 months and after heart–lung transplantation were excluded. OAC was defined either as the need for stenting, surgical revision, or balloon dilatation. Outcome parameters included graft survival, graft function, quality of life, and management. Results: During the study period, 1,170 patients were included. Hundred thirty-five (11.5%) patients developed OAC. Forty-six (4.4%) patients had significant bilateral OAC. Thirty-seven (80%) bilateral OAC patients were treated by stent insertion; in 34 patients, biodegradable stents were used. The median number of bronchoscopies in bilateral OAC was 26 during the first postoperative year compared with nine in controls (p