Elevated pre-transplant left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increases primary graft dysfunction risk in double lung transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) represents ischemia‒reperfusion injury in the lung allograft, and elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) may contribute to capillary leak. We tested whether pre-transplant LVEDP or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mPCWP) are related to PGD risk. We hypothesized that elevated LVEDP and mPCWP would increase PGD risk.

METHODS: We reviewed adult double lung transplant recipients at the University of Alberta Hospital from 2004 to 2016 with pre-transplant LVEDP measurements. The primary outcome was Grade 3 PGD at 48 to 72 hours post-transplant. We used regression analysis to assess the association between LVEDP and mPCWP with Grade 3 PGD risk, as well as agreement between these measurements.

RESULTS: Three hundred thirty double lung transplant recipients were included in the study, and 63 (19%) developed Grade 3 PGD at 48 or 72 hours. Mean LVEDP was 16 ± 7 mm Hg in the Grade 3 PGD group and 12 ± 5 mm Hg in the non-PGD group (p < 0.0001). LVEDP >15 mm Hg was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.83 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.90 to 7.73, p < 0.0001), whereas mPCWP >15 mm Hg showed similar findings (adjusted OR 4.25 [1.83 to 9.86], p = 0.0008). Correlation and agreement between LVEDP and mPCWP were fair.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated pre-transplant LVEDP increases the risk of severe PGD after lung transplant, as does elevated mPCWP. These measurements appear to be complementary as markers of prospective PGD risk.