Mechanical ventilation (MV) is an important aspect in the intraoperative and early postoperative management of lung transplant (LTx) recipients. There are no randomized-controlled trials of LTx recipient MV strategies; however, there are LTx center experiences and international survey studies reported. The main early complication of LTx is primary graft dysfunction (PGD), which is similar to the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aim to summarize information pertinent to LTx-MV, as well as PGD, ARDS, and intraoperative MV, and to synthesize these available data into recommendations. Based on the available evidence, we recommend lung-protective MV with low tidal volumes (≤6 mL/kg predicted body weight [PBW]) and positive end-expiratory pressure for the LTx recipient. In our opinion, the MV strategy should be based on donor characteristics (donor PBW as a parameter of actual allograft size), rather than based on recipient characteristics; however, this donor characteristics-based protective MV is based on indirect evidence and requires validation in prospective clinical studies.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) in COPD carries a poor prognosis. Statin therapy has been associated with numerous beneficial clinical effects in COPD, including a possible improvement in PH. We examined the association between statin use and pulmonary hemodynamics in a well-characterized cohort of patients undergoing evaluation for lung transplantation. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 112 subjects evaluated for lung transplant with a diagnosis of COPD. Clinical characteristics, pulmonary function, cardiac catheterization findings and medical comorbidities were compared between statins users and non-users. Thirty-four (30%) subjects were receiving statin therapy. Statin users were older and had an increased prevalence of systemic hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) in the statin group was lower [26 ± 7 vs 29 ± 7 mmHg, p = 0.02], as was pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) [12 ± 5 vs. 15 ± 6 mmHg, p = 0.02]. Pulmonary vascular resistance did not differ between the groups. In multiple regression analysis, statin use was associated with a 4.2 mmHg (95% CI: 2 to 6.4, p = <0.001) lower PAWP and a 2.6 mmHg (95% CI: 0.3 to 4.9, p = 0.03) reduction in mPAP independent of PAWP. In patients with severe COPD, statin use is associated with significantly lower PAWP and mPAP. These finding should be evaluated prospectively.