A lung transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or damaged lung is replaced with a healthy lung from a donor. It is typically performed on patients with end-stage lung disease or other lung conditions that are unresponsive to other medical treatments and aggressive medications. According to the condition of a patent, a single lung or both of the lungs are transplanted. Even in severe cases, the heart with two lungs is transplanted from a deceased donor to the patient who is the recipient. Lung transplant is not recommended if the patient is having an active infection in the body or certain conditions like cancer, heart disease, kidney disease and unable to change a poor lifestyle that involves drinking alcohol and cigarette smoking. Like any other surgery, the lung transplant surgery has many risks and complications that should be managed to speed up the recovery process. The first year after the liver transplant is considered as the critical period in which there are great chances of rejection of a transplant. In some of the cases, the patient can live up to 10 years after liver transplant. But more than half of the patients who received lung transplants remain alive after 5 years. Although lung transplant surgery is a major operation, it can significantly improve the general health of a patient and can improve the overall quality of life.
There are different types of surgical procedures for lung Transplants. These are:
In this type of transplant, the healthy lungs are obtained from a deceased individual who has consented to organ donation. The donor lungs are carefully matched to the recipient based on factors such as blood type, lung size, and tissue compatibility.
In some cases, a healthy lung lobe or segment can be donated by a living person. This type of transplant is less common and is usually performed when the lungs of the patient are partially damaged. It is also used when there is no suitable deceased donor of lungs.
When a single lung of a patient is damaged then a single lung transplant is required. In such cases, a single lung transplant is performed.
When both the lungs have end stage disease, both of the lungs should be transplanted in order to relieve the symptoms. Double lung transplants are more common than single lung transplants.
A heart-lung transplant is a surgical procedure in which both the heart and lungs are replaced with healthy organs from deceased donors. This type of transplant is performed when a patient has severe, end-stage heart and lung disease at the same time.
Evaluation: The patient undergoes various tests before lung transplant to evaluate the overall health of the patient. Clinical and physical examinations are also performed to correlate the symptoms with test results.
Placement on the transplant waiting list: Eligible patients are placed on the transplant waiting list where they await a suitable donor organ. The allocation of donor lungs is based on factors such as blood type, lung size compatibility, and the urgency of the condition of patients.
Preoperative preparation: Patients undergo extensive preparation that involves optimizing their overall health, managing symptoms, and addressing any complications. A multidisciplinary transplant team closely monitors the patient's progress and provides necessary care.
Donor organ identification and matching: When a suitable donor organ becomes available, a team evaluates its compatibility with the recipient. Factors such as blood type, size, and immunological compatibility are considered during the matching process.
Surgery: The damaged lungs are removed and the healthy lungs are carefully implanted and connected to the blood vessels, airways, and surrounding structures. A heart-lung bypass machine may be used to take over the functions of heart and lung for some time.
Postoperative care and recovery: After surgery, some medications are used to prevent infection and reduce the chances of rejection of transplant. A gradual increase in physical activity should be performed in the recovery phase.
The cost of a lung transplant in India is approximately from 21,312 USD to 48,416 USD. The cost can vary according to the hospital, city and complications during the procedure. The cost can also increase in case both the lungs need to transplant due to severe end stage lung disease.
Cost of lung transplant procedures in India
Treatment Costs in India | Min in USD | Max in USD |
Single lung transplant | 21312 USD | 28416 USD |
Double lung transplant | 40789 USD | 51231 USD |
Here are some common diseases in which the lung transplantation is indicated:
The lung transplant procedure is highly complex and may cause leakage of blood vessels, infections or blood clot formation which further require medical and surgical management.
Sometimes the body's natural defense mechanism recognizes the tissue of transplant as an antigen and fights against the new donor transplanted lung tissues. This can be prevented by using immunosuppressive medications but still there are chances of rejection.
Due to decreased immunity, the chances of viral, fungal and bacterial infections increases to two fold which can damage the transplanted kidney and also other organs.
After a surgery, some lung transplant recipients may experience complications such as chronic rejection, recurrence of the original lung disease, or health issues unrelated to the lungs.
There is an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and narrowing of blood vessels that supplies the transplanted lungs.
The use of medications may increase the risk of certain cancers, such as skin cancer and lung cancer. The complications should be managed properly in order to prevent these risks.
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