Lung Transplantation-Current Issues and Evolving Concepts

Abstract

The number of lung and heart-lung transplants performed in 1997 approached 1000 in the United States and exceeded 1350 worldwide. Current 1-year survival exceeds 75% for most diagnoses. Functional results are both excellent and durable. Major obstacles facing lung transplant programs include the scarcity of graft lung donors, technical limitations of graft lung preservation, and the prevention and treatment of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS). Current results and controversial aspects of lung transplantation are reviewed.

Key words:

Lung transplantation - lung volume reduction emphysema - bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome