Experience with lung reimplantation in the dog

Abstract

Experience with autotransplantation of the lung in 30 dogs is presented. The dog can be used for experimental lung transplantation, but it has been extremely difficult to establish a suitable experimental model, Reimplanted lungs of the dog often fail to function normally because of complications involving the vascular and bronchial anastomoses. An angioplastic procedure is essential for the pulmonary arterial anastomosis to assure distensibility of the vessel to avoid high and fixed pulmonary arterial resistance. Special care is also required for the atrial anastomosis to prevent stenosis and thrombosis of the anastomotic site. Because of the preceding difficulties, the dog will not likely be an ideal animal for experimental lung transplantation.