Find in Library

Background: To evaluate the association of right vs left single lung transplants (SLT) from split lung donors with long-term post-transplant recipient outcomes. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data of split SLT adult recipients comparing right and left lung grafts between 2005 and 2021. We used a paired donor model to account for underlying differences between donors and evaluated post-transplant patient and graft survival with Cox proportional hazard models with robust variance estimates adjusted for recipient characteristics. We also used Wilcoxon signed-rank, McNemar’s, and Bowker’s tests to evaluate complication rates between donor pairs. Results: There were 5,180 recipients with 2,590 right and left split allografts. Left SLT had higher rates of mortality (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08, 1.27) and graft failure (HR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.26) compared to right SLT in adjusted models. There were more early deaths (<13 days post-transplant) among left vs right SLT (n = 52 vs 31, p = 0.018). Estimated 5-year graft survival was 47.1% (95% CI: 45.1, 49.3) and 51.4% (95% CI: 49.4, 53.5) for left and right SLT, respectively. Right SLT was associated with longer length of stay (median 14 days vs 13 days, p = 0.016) and more prolonged ventilation (>5 days) (n = 319, 12.6% vs n = 270, 10.6%; p = 0.030). Conclusions: Left SLT was associated with significantly worse mortality and graft failure while right SLT was associated with more short-term complications from split lung donors. Organ listing and acceptance decisions should consider donor lung laterality.