Guidelines for Donor Lung Selection: Time for Revision?

Variance from current donor guidelines for lung transplantation is frequent; analysis suggests that donor Pao2 ranges can be widened and a suspicious chest radiograph, evidence of sepsis, and purulent bronchial secretions ignored. Older age and smoking history appear to have a minor impact. New and possibly important factors identified suggest the need to better understand the impact of a wider range of donor variables on recipient outcomes.