Lung transplantation: beyond palliation

Lung transplantation: beyond palliation.

Some 4 decades ago, the first thoracic transplant of the modern era was performed. It was a heart, it was carried out in South Africa and although it did not last long, it opened a new door for treating patients dying of advanced cardiopulmonary conditions. Also, possibly a new door towards immortality? Perhaps that first heart transplant was too daring for its time, as surely there were many u...

Beyond Palliation: Therapeutic Applications of 153Samarium-EDTMP

Primary and metastatic malignant bone lesions result in significant pain and disability in oncology patients. Targeted bone-seeking radioisotopes including 153Samarium ethylene-diamine-tetramethylene-phosphonic acid (153Sm-EDTMP) have been shown to effectively palliate bone pain, often when external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) is not feasible. However, recent evidence also suggests 153Sm-EDTMP has...

Reforming the Veterans Health Administration--Beyond Palliation of Symptoms.

Liver transplantation for Budd-Chiari syndrome--palliation or cure?

This report documents two cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) with essential thrombocytosis and antithrombin (AT) III deficiency as underlying etiological factors. Orthotopic liver transplantation was successfully performed in both patients but with different therapeutic intention. In the patient with essential thrombocytosis, hepatic transplantation only relieved the symptoms of the predisposi...

Translational Insights on Lung Transplantation: Learning from Immunology

The introduction of ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) in the practice of lung transplantation has allowed the reconditioning of the marginal grafts and their conversion into transplantable grafts. In addition, EVLP can provide a platform for the application of various preventive measures to decrease the incidence of post-transplant complications. While the Toronto team targets the attenuation of th...