Airway complications after lung transplantation: Is there a left-sided predilection?
Bartley P. Griffith, MD, Robert J. Keenan, MD Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery C700 PUH, UMPC 200 Lothrop St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582 Reply to the Editor: The suggestion by Dr. Takao and his group that the bronchial mucosal blood flow is reduced in the left main-stem bronchus relative to the right is fascinating and a significant contribution. Since the publication of our article, titled “Anastomotic Pitfalls in Lung Transplantation,” we have accrued additional patients from whom to draw conclusions. A total of 133 patients have undergone single (SLT) or double (DLT) lung transplantation (61 SLT, 72 DLT) and have survived 1 to 50 months. Of these, 15 patients (6 SLT, 9 DLT; 11%) have had significant bronchial anastomotic complications. The method of lung transplantation and suture of or wrapping of anastomoses were not significant risk factors. Patients underwent 41 procedures (range one to nine per patient) involving insertion of 23 silicone rubber stents (range one to five per pa
