Lung Transplant
If your breathing problem is so severe that your life is threatened, a lung transplant may be considered. Donor lungs usually come from someone who is deceased. The operation lasts 4 to 12 hours, and in some cases may include a donor heart as well. There is a several week hospital stay followed by close follow-up.
Modern matching techniques and drug therapy have significantly reduced problems with organ rejection, although this is still a possibility. After the operation, patients usually report an improved quality of life. Overall, 83% of lung transplant patients survive the first year, and about 60% survive three years.
Recently Answered
- Q What happens during a lung transplant evaluation?
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A transplant team will conduct a careful and comprehensive evaluation of your physical condition. Necessary tests are performed, including pulmonary function testing (PFT), x-rays and blood tests. Your dental health and bone strength are... Full Answer
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- Q What is the Lung Allocation Score?
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Developed by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the Lung Allocation Score tells the patient (12 years and older) how close they are to transplantation on the waiting list. Ranging from zero (less ill) to 100 (gravely ill), patients with higher... Full Answer
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- Q Who will I see during a lung transplant evaluation?
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Throughout the lung transplant evaluation process, questions may arise about the various tests and what to expect after the evaluation is complete. The members of the transplant team are prepared to answer all questions and concerns. The team members... Full Answer
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- Q What is lung transplant surgery like?
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Lung transplantation is a major procedure, but one that is routinely performed at Comprehensive Transplant Centers like the one at Johns Hopkins. The following surgical scenario is typical for most lung transplant patients:When patients are brought into... Full Answer
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- Q How are donor lungs allocated to people who need a transplant?
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In 2005, the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) and its non-profit funding agency, United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), changed the nation's method of allocating organs to transplant candidates. The new method, involving... Full Answer
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- Q What should I bring to a lung transplant evaluation?
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People undergoing a lung transplant evaluation need to take the following with them: A list of all current medications, including dosages and frequency, breathing treatments, eye drops, ointments, creams, vitamins, supplements and herbals, and... Full Answer
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- Q How is a lung allocation score (LAS) calculated?
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The following medical information is used to calculate a lung allocation score (LAS): Forced vital capacity: The lung function test that measures the maximum amount of air people can breathe out after breathing in as deeply as possible. This amount may... Full Answer
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- Q How are donor lungs screened before transplantation?
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The major reason people must wait for a lung transplant is the limited number of donor lungs available for transplant. While many strategies have been developed to expand the number of donors, there still are not enough organs for all the people who are... Full Answer
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- Q What criteria must I meet to be considered for a lung transplant?
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For a person with end-stage pulmonary disease to be considered for lung transplantation surgery you must: be between ages 16 and 65 not have acute and/or critical illness not have significant other organ dysfunction, such as severe heart,... Full Answer
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- Q What is a heart-lung transplant?
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Transplant surgeon Ashish Shah, MD explains the heart/lung transplant process, history, and conditions it treats, such as childhood diseases that left a weak heart and lungs. Full Answer
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