What is a Lung Transplant?

What is a Lung Transplant?

Your lungs are essential. They are what allow you to breathe. They also allow your other organs, such as your heart, to work properly too.

A lung transplant is a procedure in which either one (single) or both (double) lungs of a patient are removed and replaced with healthy lungs from a deceased donor. The decision to complete a single or double lung transplant is based on a few different factors. These factors include the underlying lung disease, the age of the patient, whether or not the patient has had prior surgery in the chest, and most importantly, the availability of donor lungs.

Lung transplant is a high-risk procedure. Most patients, however, see a significant improvement after their transplant. Most patients come off oxygen and can function normally on room air. Many are able to return to work, engage in regular daily activities, travel, and live a normal life.

There are short-term and long-term risks associated with lung transplant. They will be discussed further and explained to you in detail during your evaluation. All patients that receive a lung transplant will require medications to prevent their body from rejecting the new lungs. These medications are called “immunosuppressants”, and they must be taken for life.

Currently, the average survival rate following a lung transplant is 97% at one month, 88% at one year, 72% at 3 years, and about 65% at 5 years.