Lung transplantation (LTx) is the only treatment option of patients (pts) with pulmo-nary hypertension (PH) when pharmacologic treatment is unsatisfactory. ECMO is essential during LTx in every patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension and in most patients with sec-ondary PH. This is a retrospective, single-center study comparing LTx outcomes in patients with and without PH covering a 5-year experience. In the years 2018-2023, 219 LTx were performed, of which 56 (25.6%) with ECMO support, among which PH was diagnosed in 34pts (60.7%) in WHO groups 1,3,4: 19pts, 14pts. and 1pt respectively. The veno-arterial type of ECMO was used in patients with PH as intraoperative support (n = 34; 100%). The early (30-day) and long-term survival (1 year) of patients with and without PH did not differ statistically: 91.2% (95% CI: 82.1%-100%) vs. 77.3% (95% CI: 82.1%-100%)(P = .48) and 53.0% (95% CI: 36.6%-76.7 %) vs. 41.3% (95%CI: 23.1-74.0) (P = .48) respectively and the median hospitalization time from ECMO weaning to dis-charge was also comparable: 31 days (Q1-Q3: 21-40; IQR 20) vs. 28 days (Q1-Q3: 24-42; IQR :18) (P = .99). Patients with or without PH undergoing LTx with ECMO have comparable survival and hospital stay outcomes despite being the most challenging of all lung diseases treated with lung transplantation.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the experience of using ECMO on various patients who require ECMO support during the entire perioperative period of lung transplantation. ECMO has several roles: it can bridge patients to transplantation, improve lung graft function in case of primary graft dysfunction after transplantation, improve left ventricle function after transplantation in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and manage COVID-19 patients who are awaiting LuTx or undergoing LTx. Methods: We present 6-year results from a high-volume lung transplant center (219 cases/6 years, >50 cases/2022). We used ECMO in 56 cases (25.6%) of all lung transplants between 2018 and 2023. Results: The one-year survival rate of patients transplanted on ECMO was 85.7%. We applied all advanced ECMO techniques, such as bridging to transplantation on ECMO (n = 15, early survival 66.7%) and left ventricular conditioning after LuTx with VA-ECMO (n = 12, 60-day and one-year survival 85.1% and 53%, respectively). We also bridged patients with COVID-19 to transplantation and transplanted them from ECMO (n = 9, early survival 55%). Conclusions: This article shows possible applications of ECMO therapy for various indications in lung transplant patients and, along with data from other publications, it demonstrates that ECMO can improve survival and outcomes for patients with respiratory failure, primary pulmonary hypertension, and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted new utilization of ECMO, demonstrating its usefulness and importance in critical care medicine. Further research into capabilities of the ECMO system may expand the knowledge about its role in lung transplantation and future treatments.

Ojectives: This article explores the use of ECMO therapy in patients with end-stage respiratory failure who need lung transplantation (LTx). ECMO has several roles: it can bridge patients to transplantation, condition the lung graft in case of primary graft dysfunction after transplantation, condition the the left ventricle after transplantation in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension, and manage COVID-19 patients who are awating LTx or undergoing LTx. Methods: We present 6-year results from high volume lung transplant center (219 cases/6years, >50 cases/2022). We used ECMO in 56 cases (25.6%) of all lung transplants be- tween 2018 and 2023. Results: The one-year survival rate of patients transplanted on ECMO was 85.7% (95%CI: 77.0-95.4%). We applied all advanced ECMO techniques, such as bridging to transplantation on ECMO (n=15, early survival 66.7%), left ventricular conditioning after LTX with VA-ECMO protocol (n=12, 60-day and one-year survival 85.1% and 53% respectively) and the most advanced variant of ECMO such as Sport-ECMO (n=7). We also bridged to transplantation patients with COVID-19 and were among the first in Europe to transplant them from ECMO (n=9, early survival 55%). Conclusions: This article shows possible applications of ECMO therapy for various indications in lung transplant patients and along with data from other publications it demonstrates that ECMO can improve survival and outcomes in patients with end-stage respiratory failure, primary pulmonary hypertension, and COVID-19. The COVID-19 pan- demic highlighted new utilization of ECMO,demonstrating its usefulness and importance in critical care medicine. Further research into the capabilities of the ECMO system may expand knowledge about its role in lung transplantation and future treatments.