Lung Transplant: When Should You Seen?

November 20, 2024

A lung transplant involves one or both lungs and may be done as a multiorgan transplant, such as heart-lung, lung-liver, or lung-heart-liver. Thanks to significant advances in medicine, life expectancy after a lung transplant continues to improve.

“Lung transplantation is an option for patients with end-stage lung disease whose symptoms continue to worsen and all available surgical and medical treatments have failed,” said Ashraf, Medical Director of the new Lung Transplant Center. says Dr. Omar (MB, BC). program at Mayo Clinic, Arizona.

When should lung transplant evaluation be done?

People with severe lung disease who meet certain criteria for lung function may be evaluated for treatment with a lung transplant. Most major lung diseases that can lead to transplantation have their own guidelines for when evaluation for transplant surgery is appropriate. However, some characteristics to consider regarding lung transplant referral are:

• End-stage lung disease limits life expectancy or causes significant disability.
• Lung disease that does not respond to other medical or surgical treatments.
• There are no active contraindications to transplantation.
• No malignant tumors within the past 2 years.
• There is no multiple organ failure (in most people).

The ideal patient for a lung transplant is one who is in good health despite lung disease.

Age does not automatically exclude a patient from a lung transplant, but the older you get, the harder it is for you to become healthy enough for the surgery.

Indications for lung transplantation

Common indications for lung transplantation include:

• α-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
• COPD and emphysema.
• Cystic fibrosis.
• Interstitial lung disease.
• Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
• Pulmonary fibrosis.
• Pulmonary hypertension.
• sarcoidosis.
• Severe bronchiectasis.
• Refractory or progressive lung disease.

Dr. Omar said there is no such thing as an emergency transplant, so it's better to see patients early in the disease process, when patients have progressed to end-stage lung disease and if a transplant is important to their values ​​and hopes. If it is in line with the above, he added. Referring them to a transplant center is the right thing to do.

Increased volume, stronger results

When referring physicians choose Mayo Clinic's Lung Transplant Program to care for their patients, they are choosing a program that has completed more than 900 lung transplants since 1990. In 2023, teams performed 148 transplants at Mayo Clinic campuses in Florida and Minnesota, a record number. lung transplant surgery for the program.

We are pleased to announce that we are starting a lung transplant program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona in 2024. Our Arizona campus boasts a strong existing infrastructure, including top national rankings in pulmonary pathology and pulmonary surgery, with staff members who are leaders in pulmonary pathology.

“It's incredibly exciting to be one of the largest transplant centers in the country and to be able to offer a full range of transplant care to our patients,” said Jonathan D'Cunha, M.D., chief of cardiothoracic surgery and chief of surgery. Lung Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic, Arizona. “Our lung transplant program is supported by unparalleled expertise. Our comprehensive care team includes transplant pulmonologists, critical care physicians, cardiac surgeons, immunologists, nurses, coordinators, and social workers. , respiratory therapists, and other medical professionals, all of whom have extensive experience in lung transplantation,” combining organ transplantation with decades of experience at renowned centers. ”

Press Ganey research reports that Mayo Clinic's lung transplant program maintains high patient satisfaction rates, with more than 90% of lung transplant candidates or recipients at Mayo Clinic recommending treatment at Mayo Clinic. It is shown that there is. Furthermore, the national Transplant Recipient Scientific Registry Report shows good survival outcomes after transplantation.

Patients and their referring physicians can confidently rely on us for our expertise in all lung diseases, multiorgan transplants, lung repair, and supportive care.

At Mayo Clinic, a transplant care plan is tailored to each patient's unique needs. We offer a wide range of professional services including:

• Affordable housing for patients undergoing transplants.
• Dual listing opportunities increasing the likelihood of faster portability.
• Virtual appointments make access to care easier.
• Access to clinical trials.

For more information

Lung transplant program. Mayo Clinic.

Scientific registry of transplant recipients.

Refer the patient to Mayo Clinic.