ROMA (ITALPRESS) – For the first time in the world a lung artery transplant in a patient with a lung tumor infiltrating the pulmonary artery associated with the removal of the entire left lung.
The extraordinary operation took place at the chest surgery of the Sant’Andrea Hospital-University Company in Rome, university polyclinic of the Sapienza University network of Rome and a company of high specialization of the Lazio Region.
The intervention took place on 17 July thanks to the intuition of two young chest surgeons, Cecilia Menna and Beatrice Trabalza Marinucci and was performed by a team led by Erino A. Rendina, Director of the Thoracic Surgery of Sant’Andrea and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of Sapienza University of Rome. The transplantation of pulmonary artery, authorized by the national center transplants, was illustrated this morning by Prof. Erino A. Rendina and by Dr. Cecilia Menna, chest surgeon at AOU Sant’Andrea, who explained in detail what happened, in the presence of the Magnificent Rector of Sapienza, Antonella Polimeni, of the University of Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca, of the Head of Health.
The patient had a lung tumor infiltrating lung artery and in the months prior to surgery was subjected to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, an innovative association of molecular target drugs that produced a marked reduction in tumor size. After careful and meticulous planning, carried out in the weeks prior to surgery, the patient was able to operate thanks to the availability of a whole cryopreserved pulmonary artery at the Bank of the tissues of Barcelona. The surgery began at 12 o’clock on 17 July. Thanks to sophisticated anesthesia techniques, extracorporeal circulation was established and the heart was arrested. The sick lung artery was removed in its entirety in association with the entire left lung and a portion of trachea. Subsequently the delicate phase of reconstruction of the trachea and the airway began. Only at this point it was possible to proceed with the real pulmonary artery transplant that was replaced with the cryopreserved artery segment of about 5 cm perfectly adaptable to the size of the woman’s pot. One of the biggest problems in replacing pulmonary artery, thin but resistant tube, is precisely the restoration of its balanced tension.
The existing synthetic or biocompatible materials do not allow to obtain a replacement conduit with the same original characteristics, exposing at the risk of obstruction of the rebuilt vase. The intervention, lasted 4 hours and 30 minutes, ended at 16.30. The patient was transferred to the intensive therapy department for normal post-operative observation and awakened in the following hours, being immediately able to breathe and speak independently. The post-operative course was regular, despite a pleural resentment resolved during the recourse. During the decency, the patient was subjected to sophisticated radiological investigations that demonstrated the pervity of the transplanted vase with complete restoration of blood flow from the heart to the right lung, and excellent state of the vascular graft. After four weeks of intervention, the lady was discharged and returned to the affection of her family at her home, taking back her normal life. Currently it does not require immunosuppressive therapy, as happens instead for other organ transplants (heart-pung, etc.), and not even anticoagulant therapy given the perfect biocompatibility of the tissue. The team that operated the lady was made up of chest surgeons, cardio surgeons, anesthetists and reanimators. Also fundamental is the collaboration of perfusionists and nurses of operating room and department; to emphasize also the extraordinary work of the Pharmacy.
“This intervention is an extraordinary result for the health of Lazio and throughout the country. Once again, our public structures demonstrate that they are avant-garde at international level, thanks to the competence, courage and dedication of our professionals and our professionals. The success of this transplant is also the fruit of the close synergy between the regional health system and the university world, a model that enhances research, innovation and training of the highest level. The Lazio Region will continue to support this alliance between hospitals and universities with conviction, investing in the most advanced knowledge and technologies to offer ever more effective and safe care to citizens. It is a great pride to see the name of Sant’Andrea and Sapienza linked to a world premiere that brings prestige to the entire Italian scientific community”, comments the President of the Lazio Region, Francesco Rocca.
“This highly innovative intervention is a concrete example of how the synergy between university education, scientific research and clinical practice can generate results of global relevance – says Rector Antonella Polimeni – Sapienza is once again an active part of a model that enhances the talent and preparation of young generations of professionals and professionals, as demonstrated by this multidisciplinary team with female prevalence.”.
“Another extraordinary achievement reached by our company where professionalism and research represent an inseparable combination and the key to the event that is able to bring out and distinguish, even at the international level, our hospital”, explains Director General AOU Sant’Andrea, Francesca Milito.
Professor Rendina concludes: “We, in our country in general, and in our University and Hospitaller system, do not have the million resources of the great international centers (Harvard, Cambridge etc…) where the Nobel Prizes for Medicine are won. But we have culture, creativity and intuition; and in our specific field, we have extraordinary technical capabilities. If no one in the world has ever done such an intervention, it is because no one had ever believed it possible, and because few would have the technical and environmental skills (the Sant’Andrea) to realize it”.
SCHILLACI “AL SANT’ANDREA ESEMPIO E ORGOGLIO DELL’ECCELLENZA ITALIANA”
“The first transplant to the world of pulmonary artery successfully carried out by the team of the Toracic Surgery of the Hospital Sant’Andrea-Sapienza, led by Professor Rendina, confirms the excellence of secular and Italian public health in the international scene. The team has made a complex and delicate intervention: to them and to all who have made possible this extraordinary result goes my appreciation. This transplant once again demonstrates the high quality of Italian training and competence in science and health. All this is a reason for great pride in public health and the whole of Italy.” It is what the Minister of Health says, Orazio Schillaci.
– Uniroma1 press office source –
(ITALPRESS).
