What are some reasons for the decline in heart-lung transplants among infants?
I. Difficulty in obtaining a donor
II. Decreased risk of cardiac rejection
III. Increased risk of premature coronary artery disease
IV. The practical advantage of using the heart-lung block for three separate donations

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Heart-lung transplantation involves a sternotomy and surgical anastomoses of the trachea, superior and inferior venae cavae, and aorta and is a technically less challenging operation compared with lung transplantation. With the ability to successfully transplant a single lung or two lungs, the use of heart-lung transplantation for pulmonary disease has dramatically decreased.There are multiple reasons for this, including the following: $\bullet$ The limited availability of satisfactory coupled heart-lung donations from a single donor (governed in part by the distribution algorithm unique to each country) $\bullet$ The practical advantage of using the heart-lung block for three separate donations (one heart and two single lungs) $\bullet$ The decreased risk of cardiac rejection if isolated lung transplantation is performed $\bullet$ The decreased risk of premature coronary artery disease $\bullet$ The high demand for donor hearts by very ill heart transplant candidates with ventricular assist devices or artificial hearts in place.

What Are Some Reasons for the Decline in Heart-Lung Transplants