Primary Graft Failure Following Lung Transplantation

To determine the incidence of primary graft failure (PGF) following lung transplantation, assess possible risk factors, and characterize its effect on outcomes. Retrospective review of 100 consecutive patients undergoing lung transplantation at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Fifteen patients meeting diagnostic criteria for PGF (PGF+ group) were compared with 85 patients without this complication (PGF– group). The incidence of PGF was 15%. There was no significant difference in age, sex, underlying pulmonary disease, preoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure, type of transplant, allograft ischemic times, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, or use of postoperative prostaglandin E1 infusion between the PGF+ and PGF– groups. Induction therapy with antilymphocyte globulin was used less frequently in the PGF+ group (p