Encouraging clinical outcomes of an international lung transplant program in the United Arab Emirates

<bold>Background:</bold> Lung transplant (LT) is the only definitive treatment for end stage lung diseases, however international access is severely limited. A newly established LT center in Abu Dhabi provides access to local as well as international patients (pts) from Gulf, Asia, Africa and Europe. Method Single center retrospective review of clinical profiles and early clinical outcomes of waitlisted and transplanted pts from August 2022 to January 2024. <bold>Results:</bold> Since its opening, there were total of 39 pts listed with 2 waitlist mortalities, and total of 27 pts underwent LT after median wait time of 29 days. Indications were chronic lung diseases (n=25) and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (n=2). Two pts had a single LT, 24 pts had bilateral sequential LT, and 1 patient had a combined double lung-liver transplant. Two pts were transplanted while on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The 30-day mortality rate is 7% with 2 deaths from sepsis and multiorgan failure. At 1 year, graft survival is 100% and overall survival is 91% (Graph 1). There were recipients from 10 nationalities and deceased donors from 7 different nationalities (Figure 1). <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Despite its nascent stage, the program encountered high acuity pts with complex cardiopulmonary pathology. Excellent graft and overall survival are encouraging for a new program in this region. Accessibility to international pts remains a hallmark of the program. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA4998/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig>