Lungs Transplant

What is it? A lung transplant is a surgery to

replace one or both diseased lungs with healthy ones from a human donor. The first transplant was realized on June 11th in 1963.

It is used to treat:• people with advanced lung disease who are failing to respond to other treatment; it is thought the person’s life expectancy could be less than 2-3 years without a transplant.

Causes• concurrent chronic illness (e.g. congestive

heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease);• current infections,

including HIV and hepatitis, • current or recent cancer;• current use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal

drugs;• age;• psychiatric conditions;

Characteristics of donors

• Being healthy;• Size match; the donated lung or

lungs must be large enough to adequately oxygenate the patient, but small enough to fit within the recipient's chest cavity;

• To be under 60 years old;• Same blood type than the recipient

Types of transplants

• A single lung transplant;• A double lung transplant;• A heart-lung transplant;• A lobe transplant (just a part of a

living donor's lung is removed and used to replace part of recipient's diseased lung).

Risks • Problems at the place where the new

blood vessels and airways were attached;

• Rejection of the new lung, which may happen right away, within the first 4 to 6 weeks, or over time.

What happens during it?It takes between 4-12 hours and the

procedure consists on: • A cut is made in the chest; • The damaged lungs are removed;• The patient may be connected to a

bypass machine;• The donated lungs are then connected

to the relevant airways blood vessels;• The cut is closed.

After the procedure• You should stay in the hospital for 7 - 21

days. You will spend time in the intensive care unit (ICU) right after surgery.

• The recovery period is about 6 months. Often, your transplant team will ask you to stay close to the hospital for the first 3 months. You will need to have regular check-ups with blood tests and x-rays for many years.

• Also you will need to take lots of medicines, and you will receive daily checks.

Questions• Do you agree with the lungs transplant? Why/why not?•Which ones do you think the disadvantages of lungs transplant are?

ALVAREZ ULSAMER LOURDES

CAMPODONICO ALEXIS

GARCIA LASIERRA NAOMI

HARTFIEL MARIANO FÉLIX