Lung transplant
Lung Transplant
A Lung Transplant (pronunciation: lʌŋ trænsˈplɑːnt) is a surgical procedure that replaces a patient's diseased lung with a healthy lung from a donor. The etymology of the term comes from the Latin trans (across) and plantare (to plant), indicating the transfer of a living tissue from one body to another.
Indications
A lung transplant is typically reserved for people who have tried other medications or treatments, but their conditions haven't sufficiently improved. Some common conditions that may warrant a lung transplant include Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and certain types of Heart Disease.
Procedure
The procedure involves removing the patient's diseased lung, and then sewing in the donor lung. The patient's main airway (bronchus), blood vessels, and pulmonary veins are connected to the donor lung. The procedure can be performed for one lung (single lung transplant) or both lungs (double lung transplant).
Risks
Like any major surgery, lung transplant surgery carries risks such as infection, bleeding, and side effects from anesthesia. Specific risks associated with lung transplant surgery include Rejection, Infection, and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS).
Post-Transplant Care
After a lung transplant, patients will need lifelong care, including regular check-ups and a regimen of medications, particularly immunosuppressants to prevent rejection of the new lung.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lung transplant
- Wikipedia's article - Lung transplant
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