Lung transplantation at the turn of the century

Annu Rev Med. 2001:52:185-201. doi: 10.1146/annurev.med.52.1.185.

Abstract

Lung transplantation has become a viable treatment option for patients with end-stage lung disease. Donor selection and organ allocation must follow specific guidelines. Single, bilateral, and living-donor lobar transplantation have all been performed successfully for a variety of diseases. Complications include reimplantation response and airway complications. Rejection may occur in the hyperacute, acute, or chronic settings and requires judicious management with immunosuppression. Infection and malignancy remain potential complications of the commitment to lifelong systemic immunosuppression. Survival statistics have remained encouraging and continue to improve with experience. Improved exercise tolerance and quality of life have been demonstrated in the years following transplantation. Remaining obstacles include limited donor organ availability, long-term graft function, and patient survival. However, ongoing advances in immune tolerance and standardized training of physicians in the care of transplant patients should carry lung transplant forward in the twenty-first century.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Forecasting
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / methods
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Lung Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Lung Transplantation / immunology
  • Lung Transplantation / methods*
  • Lung Transplantation / mortality
  • Lung Transplantation / psychology
  • Lung Transplantation / trends*
  • Patient Selection
  • Quality of Life
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / methods
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement / trends