Lung transplant

Definition:

Surgery to replace one or both diseased lungs with healthy lungs from a human donor.

Description:

A lung transplant is donated from a human who has been declared brain-dead but remains on life-support. Tissue matches must be made to assure the patient's best chance of fighting off rejection of the transplanted tissue.

While the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia), an incision is made through the breast bone (sternum). Tubes are used to re-route the blood to a heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood oxygenated and circulating during the surgery.

The patient's lungs are removed and the donor lungs are stitched into place. Drainage tubes (chest tubes) are inserted to drain air, fluid, and blood out of the chest for several days to allow the lungs to fully re-expand.

Indications:

Lung transplants may be recommended for patients with severe lung disease such as:

• permanent enlargement of air sacs (alveoli) with loss of ability to completely exhale (emphysema)
• hereditary lung blockages (cystic fibrosis)
• long-term (chronic) infections (sarcoidosis)
• permanent scarring and thickening of lung tissue (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)

Lung transplant is not recommended for patients with serious illnesses, such as reduced kidney or liver function, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or other serious diseases.