Longitudinal recovery of physical function after lung transplantation: a comparative analysis of ECMO and non-ECMO recipients.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
- 2Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- 3Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.
- 4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
- 5Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
Abstract
Introduction
Lung transplantation (LT) improves survival in patients with end-stage lung disease; however, recovery of physical function after transplantation remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in critically ill recipients bridged with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Understanding longitudinal functional recovery and potential differences between ECMO and non-ECMO recipients is essential for optimizing post-transplant rehabilitation strategies.Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 84 adult patients who underwent lung or heart-lung transplantation between 2018 and 2023. Physical function was assessed at 6 and 12 months using the 6-minute walk test, gait speed, and strength measures. Changes over time and group differences were evaluated using longitudinal statistical models.Results
Fifty patients (59.5%) required ECMO support. Overall physical function significantly improved from 6 to 12 months, with 93.4% achieving independent ambulation by 12 months. ECMO recipients had a lower proportion of independent ambulation at 6 months compared with non-ECMO recipients. At 12 months, no statistically significant between-group difference was observed in the proportion of patients achieving independent ambulation.Conclusions
LT recipients showed significant improvement in physical function between 6 and 12 months after transplantation. ECMO-bridged recipients had lower independent ambulation rates at 6 months, while no statistically significant between-group difference was observed at 12 months. Further studies incorporating pretransplant and early postoperative assessments are needed to better characterize functional recovery after lung transplantation.
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BibTeX
@article{son2026longitudinal,
title = {{Longitudinal recovery of physical function after lung transplantation: a comparative analysis of ECMO and non-ECMO recipients.}},
author = {Woo Chul Son and Jong Yoon Chang and Ji Yeon Park and Jun Hyeok Lee and Geon Woo Kim and Jung Hwa Do and Sang-Bum Hong and Ho Cheol Kim and Won Kim},
journal = {BMC pulmonary medicine},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12890-026-04506-6},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897514},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Longitudinal recovery of physical function after lung transplantation: a comparative analysis of ECMO and non-ECMO recipients.
AU - Woo Chul Son
AU - Jong Yoon Chang
AU - Ji Yeon Park
AU - Jun Hyeok Lee
AU - Geon Woo Kim
AU - Jung Hwa Do
AU - Sang-Bum Hong
AU - Ho Cheol Kim
AU - Won Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC pulmonary medicine
DO - 10.1186/s12890-026-04506-6
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42897514
AB - Introduction Lung transplantation (LT) improves survival in patients with end-stage lung disease; however, recovery of physical function after transplantation remains insufficiently characterized, particularly in critically ill recipients bridged with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Understanding longitudinal functional recovery and potential differences between ECMO and non-ECMO recipients is essential for optimizing post-transplant rehabilitation strategies.Methods We retrospectively analyzed 84 adult patients who underwent lung or heart-lung transplantation between 2018 and 2023. Physical function was assessed at 6 and 12 months using the 6-minute walk test, gait speed, and strength measures. Changes over time and group differences were evaluated using longitudinal statistical models.Results Fifty patients (59.5%) required ECMO support. Overall physical function significantly improved from 6 to 12 months, with 93.4% achieving independent ambulation by 12 months. ECMO recipients had a lower proportion of independent ambulation at 6 months compared with non-ECMO recipients. At 12 months, no statistically significant between-group difference was observed in the proportion of patients achieving independent ambulation.Conclusions LT recipients showed significant improvement in physical function between 6 and 12 months after transplantation. ECMO-bridged recipients had lower independent ambulation rates at 6 months, while no statistically significant between-group difference was observed at 12 months. Further studies incorporating pretransplant and early postoperative assessments are needed to better characterize functional recovery after lung transplantation.
SN - 1471-2466
ER -