Lung transplant
- Article
- 2021-02-04
Lung transplantation is an operation in which a diseased lung is removed and replaced with a healthy lung.
Lung transplants are used to improve the quality of life and extend the life span of people with severe or advanced chronic lung disease. In rare cases, a lung transplant can be performed at the same time as a heart transplant in patients with severe heart and lung disease.
You may qualify for a lung transplant if you have severe lung disease that does not respond to other treatments. If you are otherwise healthy enough for surgery, you will be placed on the National Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network waiting list. This network deals with the organ sharing process in the country. If a match is found, you should have your lung transplant right away.
This operation is performed in a hospital. You will be given general anesthesia and will not be awake for the operation. Tubes help you breathe, give you medicine, and aid in other bodily functions. A surgeon will open your chest, cut the main airways and blood vessels, and remove your diseased lung. The surgeon will bandage the healthy donor lung, reconnect the blood vessels, and close your chest.
After surgery, you will recover in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) before moving to a hospital room for one to three weeks. Your doctor may recommend pulmonary rehabilitation after your lung transplant to help you recover and improve your breathing. Pulmonary rehabilitation can include training, education and counseling. Lung function tests will help doctors monitor your breathing and recovery. After you leave the hospital, you will often see your doctor to check for infection or rejection of your new lung, to test your lung function, and to make sure you are recovering properly.
In the first year after a lung transplant, you are most at risk for potentially life-threatening complications such as rejection and infection. To prevent rejection, you must take drugs for the rest of your life that suppress your immune system and help keep your body from rejecting your new lungs. These important drugs weaken your immune system and increase your risk of infections, and over time they can increase your risk of cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and kidney damage. Practicing good hygiene, getting routine vaccines, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as heart health food and no smoking, are very important. Getting emotional support and following your doctor's advice can help you recover and stay as healthy as possible.
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