Clinical and functional characteristics of patients prior to lung transplantation: report of experience at the Clínica Puerta de Hierro]

The time at which lung transplantation is indicated is determined by clinical and functional criteria that vary according to the particular disease. The aim of our study was to present the criteria according to which patients were placed on waiting lists for lung transplantation in our hospital.We analyzed retrospectively the clinical characteristics, lung function, heart function, and 6-minute walk test results of patients who had received a lung transplant in our hospital from January 2002 through September 2005.During the study period 100 lung transplants were performed. The mean age of the patients was 45 years (range, 15-67 years) and 57% were men. The diseases that most often led to a lung transplant were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (35%), pulmonary fibrosis (29%), and bronchiectasis (21%). Lung function values differed by disease: mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 20% (11%) and forced vital capacity (FVC) was 37% (15%) in patients with COPD; FEV1 was 41% (15%) and FVC, 40% (17%) in patients with pulmonary fibrosis; and FEV1 was 23% (7%) and FVC, 37% (10%) in patients with bronchiectasis.The patients who received lung transplants in our hospital were in advanced phases of their disease and met the inclusion criteria accepted by the various medical associations when they were placed on the waiting list.