Heterotopic heart-single lung transplantation: report of a new technique.

A new surgical technique for patients with end-stage pulmonary and cardiopulmonary disease is described. This technique, a heterotopic heart-single lung transplant, limits dissection in the vascular collateralized mediastinum and preserves the carina and left lung. Moreover, it preserves the recipient's heart when the predominant problem is pulmonary. We used this technique in a 34-year-old woman with end-stage cardiopulmonary disease, resulting from pulmonary hypertension, who was referred to the Texas Heart Institute for evaluation as a candidate for a heart-lung transplantation. She had undergone ligation of a large hypertensive patent ductus arteriosus in early childhood. We believe our technique is a potentially viable alternative for selected heart-lung transplant patients.