Lung Transplant Surgery

A lung transplant is a surgery done to remove a diseased lung and replace it with a healthy lung from another person. The surgery may be done for one lung or both. Lung transplants can be done on people of almost all ages from newborns to adults up to age 65 and sometimes even later.There are two primary types of lung transplants, depending on the source of the donor lungs and the recipient's medical condition:

A lung transplant is a complex surgical procedure that involves the replacement of a patient's diseased or failing lungs with healthy donor lungs. Before the transplant, a thorough evaluation of the patient is conducted. This assessment includes medical history, physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging studies, and psychological evaluations. If the patient is deemed suitable for a lung transplant, they are placed on a national or regional transplant waiting list. 

The surgeon makes an incision in the recipient's chest and accesses the chest cavity. For a single lung transplant, only one lung is replaced, while for a double lung transplant, both lungs are replaced. The donor's lungs are sutured into place, and the blood vessels and airways are carefully connected. The surgeon ensures that the new lungs function properly and that there is no air leakage.

Once the transplantation is complete, the incisions are closed, and the patient is transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) for monitoring. Mechanical ventilation and other life support measures may be required immediately after surgery. Patients are closely monitored for signs of organ rejection, infection, and other complications. Immunosuppressive medications are administered to prevent the recipient's immune system from rejecting the new lungs.