Lung transplantation from swimming pool drowning victims: A case series. Issue 6 (25th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsou, Sarah; Chen, Joy; Brzezinski, Marek; Hays, Steven; Leard, Lorriana; Singer, Jonathan P.; Trinh, Binh; Kukreja, Jasleen
• Is Part Of: American journal of transplantation. Volume 21:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 2273
• Page End: 2278
• Publication Date: 2021-02-25
• Subjects: clinical research/practice -- donors and donation -- donors and donation: extended criteria -- lung failure/injury -- lung transplantation/pulmonology -- organ procurement -- organ procurement and allocation; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1600-6135

Abstract

Abstract: The use of donor lungs from victims of drowning remains a rare occurrence, given concerns over lung parenchymal injury and microbial contamination secondary to aspiration. Given this infrequency, there is a relative paucity of literature surrounding the use of organs from drowned donors, with the few that exist on this subject focusing primarily on cases of drowning in naturally occurring bodies of water (i.e., drowning at sea). Little is known regarding the outcomes of utilizing donor lungs from victims of drowning in artificial bodies of water (i.e., swimming pools). Here, we describe three cases of bilateral lung transplantation from donors who drowned in swimming pools, with good short‐ and long‐term outcomes. These cases lend further evidence to the feasibility of using such organs that have traditionally been viewed with much trepidation. With continually growing demand for donor organs, the use of drowned donor lungs may serve as a means to expand the donor pool and lessen the burden of waitlist mortality. Abstract : This case series of successful lung transplantation using lungs from donors who drowned in swimming pools furthers the contention that such donors can expand the lung donor pool.