Outcomes of urgent lung transplantation in critically ill patients versus standard lung transplantation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Whether survival differs between urgent lung transplantation (ULTx) and standard lung transplantation (LTx) remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate survival and other post-transplant outcomes between ULTx and standard LTx.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched up to July 31, 2024 for relevant studies. A meta-analysis of baseline characteristics and postoperative outcomes was then performed, with subgroup analyses by study designs and indications. Overall survival (OS) was set as the primary outcome in this study. Risk ratio (RR), mean differences (MD) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) were assessed using fixed-effects or random-effects models.

Results

Nine studies with 934 ULTx and 2980 standard LTx patients were included. ULTx group exhibited lower donor PaO₂/FiO₂ (P = 0.03) and higher pre-operative life support use (P < 0.001) than standard LTx group. No statistical difference in waiting list mortality was found between groups (28.4 % vs. 12.6 %; P = 0.54). ULTx was associated with significantly lower 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS than standard LTx (70.2 % vs. 80.0 %, 57.7 % vs. 66.7 %, 46.5 % vs. 56.2 %; all P < 0.001). At each time point, about 10 % OS rate differences were found consistently. In most subgroups, ULTx was associated with worse outcomes, but no difference in OS was observed in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Conclusions

ULTx reduces waiting list mortality in critical patients, but is associated with worse OS than standard LTx. ULTx may limit short-term survival rather than long-term survival compared with standard LTx.