Respiratory physiotherapy as a tool to allow and optimize lung donation.

Authors :: Rodrigues-Gomes RM
Lage Cendón L
Martínez Rolán R
Gelabert-González M
Source :: Respiratory medicine case reports [Respir Med Case Rep] 2023 Oct 08; Vol. 46, pp. 101917. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Oct 08 (Print Publication: 2023).
Publication Year :: 2023
Abstract: Lung donation is complex and sometimes the secretion retention makes it impossible. We report a case of a patient that was screened as potential lung donor with PaO2/FiO2 ratio below range. As in viable patients, the respiratory physiotherapist applied a ventilator-based group of techniques with removal of huge amount of secretions and consequent increase in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio that allowed the inclusion of the patient as potentially lung donor. The protocol was applied until the extraction day, with successful extraction and transplantation. We believe that respiratory physiotherapy could have a potential role in increasing lung viability.<br />Competing Interests: No conflict<br /> (© 2023 The Authors.)