Pediatric lung transplantation

Lung transplantation has become an accepted therapeutic option for children with end-stage lung disease. Advances have been made over the last 2 decades in lung transplantation concerning the procurement and preservation of donor lung, surgical techniques, early post-operative care and immunosuppression. The pediatric lung transplant program at Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron was started in 1996. A total of 672 lung transplants have been performed in our hospital since 1990, with 51 (7.6%) corresponding to children (younger than 18 years). Cystic fibrosis is the leading cause for pediatric patients to require lung transplantation. In our hospital cystic fibrosis represent only 8.7% of lung transplants in children less than 11 years-old, but 86% in children 12-17 years old. Other important indications for lung transplantation in children are pediatric forms of interstitial lung diseases and pulmonary vascular disorders (mainly pulmonary hypertension). Actuarial survival is our center (55% at 5 years and 47% at 7 years) is similar to survival published in the International Registry.