Cardiopulmonary autotransplantation in primates (baboons): Late functional results

The feasibility of combined cardiopulmonary transplantation is clearly demonstrated by the study performed in the baboon reported in this communication. Hemodynamic measurements obtained as early as one and as late as 24 months after cardiopulmonary autotransplantation revealed normal hemodynamic values except in one animal who had moderate reactive pulmonary hypertension 12 months after surgery. Twenty-four months after cardiopulmonary autotransplantation, these values had returned to preoperative levels. Xenon¹³³ used in conjunction with a scintillation camera proved a convenient and sensitive technique for the evaluation of pulmonary function in these nondomesticated primates. The bilaterally denervated lungs are capable of supporting life without respiratory assist immediately after surgery and have essentially normal perfusion and ventilation as early as 11 days after cardiopulmonary transplantation. Measurement of pulmonary extravascular water by the single-passage double indicator-dilution technique with I¹²⁵ RISA and I¹³¹ iodoantipyrene revealed normal values for pulmonary extravascular fluid and cardiac output in one animal 26 months after cardiopulmonary autotransplantation.