Review of outcomes of delayed chest closure following lung transplantation: a meta-analysis

The clinical outcomes of delayed chest closure (DCC) compared with primary chest closure (PCC) following lung transplantation, including perioperative outcomes and long-term survival, remained controversial. This was the first systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the short- and long-term outcomes of DCC following lung transplantation.

We comprehensively searched electronic literature from 4 databases up to April 1st, 2022. Dichotomous data and continuous data were pooled with odds ratio and weighted mean difference, respectively. The quality of included studies was assessed with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale.

Ten studies were included in the systematic review and 4 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that DCC was associated with an increased risk of surgical site infection, prolonged hospital stays, and higher risk of primary graft dysfunction compared to PCC. The 30 day and 5 year survival were higher in PCC cohort compared with DCC cohort while differences in survival at 6 months was insignificant.

Our findings do not support the aggressive application of DCC. DCC should be cautiously applied since its association with worse perioperative outcomes and higher mortality. But it remains the life-saving steps under dangerous circumstances.