Lung Transplantation by David Pilcher

The podcast features Professor David Pilcher providing an overview of lung transplants in the ICU, emphasizing key principles for intensive care trainees. He addresses the relevance of lung transplant cases, particularly concerning immunosuppression management, and highlights the cardiorespiratory physiology involved. Pilcher shares insights into donor and recipient selection, noting the increasing age of both, and discusses the shift towards double lung transplants for better survival outcomes, except in cases like pulmonary fibrosis. He also touches on post-operative care, common complications such as primary graft failure and dynamic hyperinflation, and ventilation strategies. The discussion includes survival rates, revealing a 4% mortality rate at their center, and explores emerging trends like DCD lungs and ECMO as a bridge to transplant.