Pulmonary lobar transplantation provides a clue to the acute donor shortage. To examine the
experimental and clinical applicability of lobar transplantation, the authors observed the
extent of lung expansion and infiltrate in the allografted lobe through the sequential
analysis of the early chest roentgenograms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty two mongrel dogs
weighting 17 kg on average were used. Donor lung bloc was taken and flushed with Euro-Collins
solution. The left lower lobar bloc was procured and implanted in the pneumonectomized
recipient dog. The anastomosis was performed in the order of the pulmonary vein, artery,
and bronchus. To assess the radiological pattern in the lobar allograft, a grading system
was designed according to the extent of lung expansion and infiltrate. RESULTS: A) Expansion
pattern: Good to excellent lung expansion was seen on postoperative day 0 in 6 out of 10
dogs; on day 1, 4/7; day 2, 3/12; day 3, 1/1; and day 4, 1/3, respectively. Radiographs on
day 6, 7, and 12 also showed good expansion in one dog. B) Lung opacity pattern: Clear to
minimal infiltrates were seen on day 0 in 8 out of 10 dogs; day 1, 7/17; day 2, 2/12; and
day 4, 1/3. The same appearances were detected in a single dog on day 6, 7, and 12. C)
Expansion-opacity correlation pattern: Radiographs on postoperative day 0 showed good
expansion with mild infiltrates, and excellent expansion with minimal infiltrates were
observed on day 1 in 3 out of 17 dogs, day 2, 1/12; and day 4, 1/3, respectively.
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