Risk factors and outcome of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation in Korea

Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of acute lung injury (ALI) that occurs within the first few days after allograft reperfusion in lung transplant recipients. The incidence of PGD is known to be 10–30% and it is the major cause of mortality within the first post-transplant year (1,2). PGD necessitates prolonged mechanical ventilation and a longer stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), and leads to poor functional outcomes and an increased risk of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (1,2). PGD grade 3 is associated with worse clinical outcomes than other PGD grades regardless of time point (3,4). Therefore, the identification of risk factors for PGD, especially PGD grade 3, is very important for improving the outcomes of lung transplantation patients