BACKGROUND Studies have shown that patients with poor pre-lung transplant (LTx) right ventricular (RV) function have prolonged post-operative ventilation time and intensive care stay as well as a higher risk of in-hospital death. RV stroke work index (RVSWI) calculates RV workload and contractility. We hypothesized that patients with higher RV workload capacity, indicated by higher RVSWI, would have better outcomes after LTx. METHODS A retrospective record review was performed on all LTx patients between 2005 and 2011 who had right heart catheterizations (RHC) 1-year before LTx. In addition, results for echocardiograms and cardiopulmonary exercise testing within 1-year of RHCs were gathered. RESULTS Mean RVSWI was 9.36 ± 3.59 for 115 patients. There was a significant relation between mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), RVSWI, RV end-diastolic diameter (RVEDd), left atrial dimension (LAD), peak and resting pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide, minute ventilation /volume of carbon dioxide production, and 1-year mortality after LTx. Contrary to our hypothesis, those who survived had lower RVSWI than those who died within 1 year (8.99 ± 3.38 vs 11.6 ± 4.1, p = 0.026). Hospital length of stay significantly correlated with mPAP, RVSWI, left ventricular ejection fraction, percentage of fractional shortening, RVEDd, RV fractional area change, LAD, and RV wall thickness in diastole. Intensive care length of stay also significantly correlated with these variables and with body mass index. RVSWI was significantly different between groups of different RV function, indicating that increased RVSWI is associated with impairment of RV structure and function in patients undergoing LTx evaluation. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates an association between 1-year mortality, initial hospital and intensive care length of stay, and pre-LTx RVSWI. Increased mPAP is a known risk for outcomes in LTx patients. Our findings support this fact and also show increased mortality with elevation of RVSWI, demonstrating the value of RV function in the assessment of risk for pre-LTx patients.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is common in interstitial lung disease (ILD). Since cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is useful in understanding the pathophysiology of respiratory disorders and can distinguish between ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) defects, it may have a role in the detection of PH in ILD. We evaluated whether CPET can detect PH through analysis of V/Q defects in ILD. Objectives: We aimed to use CPET to determine if there are changes in the ventilation and the activity pattern of mixed-expired carbon dioxide pressure (PECO₂) and end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure (PetCO₂) in ILD patients with and without PH. Methods: A retrospective chart review was done of all patients who received lung transplants at the Columbia University Medical Center between 2000 and 2011 with the diagnosis of ILD. CPETs were performed during the 2 years prior to transplantation; right heart catheterizations and pulmonary function tests were performed within 4 months of CPET. Results: The ILD patients with PH demonstrated significantly lower PetCO₂ and PECO₂ during certain levels of exercise with a distinctive activity pattern for PECO₂/PetCO₂. Conclusions: Evaluation of V/Q defects through the PECO₂ and PetCO₂ patterns on CPET in ILD patients can distinguish between patients with and without PH.

Background and objective Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known complication in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an essential tool for the assessment of patients with cardiac and pulmonary diseases due to its prognostic and therapeutic implications. Few studies have evaluated the relationship between CPET response and mean pulmonary artery pressures (mPAP) in interstitial lung disease (ILD). The purpose of the present study was to determine and compare the potential correlations between CPET, 6-minute talk test (6MWT), pulmonary function testing (PFT) and PH in patients with ILD being evaluated for lung transplantation. Methods The present study reviewed patients with ILD who received lung transplantations and had CPETs within two years before transplantation, right heart catheterizations, PFTs and 6MWTs within 4 months of CPET. Results A total of 72 patients with ILD were analyzed; 36% had PH. There were significant correlations between mPAP and CPET parameters in patients with PH; but mPAP had no impact on DLCO% or 6MWD. CPET parameters were able to detect differences between levels of severity of PH through the use of the ratio of minute ventilation to rate of carbon dioxide production (V̇E/V̇CO2) and the partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2). Conclusions This is the first study that analyzes 6MWD, PFT and CPET in patients with ILD awaiting lung transplantation with and without PH. The present study demonstrates the significant impact of PH on exercise capacity and performance in patients with ILD awaiting lung transplantation.