Your body needs oxygen in order to live healthy and function well. And when your body utilizes oxygen, it generates carbon dioxide, as a by-product, and this then has to be speedily expelled by the body. Your lungs do this work of respiration- they inhale the oxygen and expel the carbon dioxide.
What is lung transplant surgery ?
Lung transplant surgery is the replacement of either one (single) or two (double) faultily functioning, diseased lungs with better, healthy lungs from a human donor, by surgery. Lung transplant is considered, only if and when, after availing all other medical treatments, your lung disease continues to progress. Either a single lung or both the lungs can be transplanted, based on your requirement, on progression of the lung disease and on your existing medical health and conditions.
Who may need a lung transplant surgery ?
Lung transplant may become a must for people with irreversible, relentless decreased lung function that is untreatable with other effectual medical therapies. Patients with advanced stages of the listed lung conditions may be benefited from a lung transplant surgery.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): This is bronchitis and emphysema, primarily due to smoking of tobacco but also can be attributed to other causes such as air pollution, chemicals and dust in the air.
- Pulmonary fibrosis: Your lungs are elastic. However, when they become thick, stiff and scarred due to this condition, using the lungs gets harder and harder.
- Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease, it targets lungs, skin and lymph nodes.
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and cystic fibrosis: Both genetic diseases, they both affect the lungs.
- Bronchiectasis: It is a disease state wherein the bronchi of your lungs are permanently damaged and enlarged, due to continual infection or inflammation.
- Primary pulmonary hypertension: This is increased blood pressure in the arteries flowing into your lungs. In this, the blood vessels that bring blood from your heart to your lungs develop into firm and stiff channels. Your heart then has to work even harder than usual, to force the blood through these channels. As the disease progresses, your heart weakens and you can develop concomitant heart failure.
- Other rare conditions may also be considered for lung transplantation. Also, sometimes, both the lungs and heart have to be transplanted simultaneously, if both organs are in need of replacement.
Who is a candidate for lung transplant surgery ?
To be a candidate for lung transplant, you must have the following.
- Progressive, degenerative lung disease that doesn’t show response to medical treatment.
- Have any or one of the above-mentioned conditions for which lung transplant is considered a must, to stop progression of disease.
- Consenting to agree to and understand the risks of transplantation surgery and ensuing medical therapy.
- Be actually able to withstand surgery and subsequent medical management, so stay as physically active and fit as possible.
- Give up smoking, alcohol or the use of recreational drugs.
- Ultimately, the transplant team finally determines if getting a transplant will be a good option for you or not- you have to be able to withstand the surgery, the powerful immunosuppressive medication and be prepared mentally and financially for the setbacks.
What are the different types of lung transplant surgery ?
- Lobe transplant: This can be done from a living donor. Only part of the lung/ lobe is transplanted.
- Single-Lung transplant: If only lung has to be transplanted based on severity of disease.
- Double-Lung transplant: When both lungs have to be transplanted.
- Heart-Lungs transplant: When both the lungs and the heart are to be replaced, either due to a single disease or an amalgamation of diseases that affect both organs.
What are the diagnostic tests that need to be done for lung transplant surgery ?
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Heart catheterization, echocardiogram & electrocardiogram – to check for diseases of
the heart - A ventilation–perfusion (VQ) scan to check for any emboli in the lungs.
- Chest Radiographs.
- An Esophagram- to check the esophageal emptying
- A complete check up and evaluation of the entire body- rule out tuberculosis, check-up of the kidneys, stomach and liver.
- Blood Diagnostic Work-Up to establish your blood type.
- Bone density test
- Exercise capacity
What is the procedure for lung transplant surgery ?
A lung transplant operation necessitates general anaesthesia. It will be a time-consuming surgery, taking approximately an hour to set you up for the anaesthesia and to attach essential monitoring and lifelines; 4 – 8 hours approximately of surgery for a single-lung transplant, and 6- 12 hours of surgery for a double-lung transplant, but you will be under the influence of anaesthesia for the entire duration of surgery.
Single-lung transplants require an incision made on the right or left side of the chest, based on which lung is being replaced. Double-lung transplants are usually done using an incisonal slit made across the entire chest, immediately beneath the breast. The operation commences when the donor lung is ready to be transplanted in the operating room. Your old lung or lungs are disconnected and removed, and the healthier donor lung is now positioned in the chest cavity. All the blood vessels to and fro (the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein) are joined and the main airway (bronchus) of the donor lung is joined to your airway.
In case of a heart-lung transplant, you are linked to a heart-lung apparatus that circulates your blood while the operation is underway. The donor lungs and donor heart are both attached, after your organs are removed. You will be taken to an intensive care unit (ICU) for post-surgical recuperation and follow-up. You can expect to be in the ICU for several days. The time that you are in the ICU, you will have various tubes connected to you. These are- a breathing tube for 1 or 2 days, to help you breathe, a nasogastric tube to remove contents of stomach so it doesn’t aspirate or go into your lungs, chest tubes to drain blood, pus and postsurgical fluids from the chest, a catheter to drain out the urine, and intravenous (IV) catheters in your neck and arm for providing crucial fluids and medications. After leaving the ICU, you will be shifted to a hospital room. The customary wait and recovery in a hospital varies amidst the transplant programs but is usually 1 to 3 weeks. However, since you can expect some complications, some people stay in the ICU and hospital for longer, ranging from weeks to even months.
What can you expect post lung transplant surgery ?
During the three months immediately after discharge from the hospital, you will have to prepare yourself for frequent and routine trips to the medical hospital for blood tests, lung function tests other tests for monitoring of your health condition. These trips will taper or increase based on your health.
You will have to keep a check on your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, and vital stats like pulse, temperature and ease of breathing. Smoking and drinking are to completely stopped. A good diet is advised. You can start a program of exercise rehabilitation, with recommendations from your pulmonary specialist, cardiologist and physiotherapist.
What are the pros and cons of lung transplant surgery ?
Lung transplantation does increase life expectancy and improves quality of life. The most significant time for survival is the first year after transplantation; this is the phase when surgical complications, rejection, and infection are the greatest threat to survival. Risks include rejection and infection. You will have to take Immunosuppressive (antirejection) medications prescribed by your doctors. Take the meds as prescribed. Even then, sometimes rejection is possible despite your and the transplant team’s best efforts. Symptoms of rejection comprise of fever, chills, aches, and shortness of breath. Contact your transplant team immediately in case of these symptoms.
How to find, reach and choose a lung transplant surgeon for lung transplant surgery ?
Now you can find and reach lung transplant surgeons from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple lung transplant surgeons , get approximate cost for lung transplant surgery from different hospitals, compare things and then choose a lung transplant surgeon or a hospital for lung transplant surgery .
Find, reach and choose a lung transplant surgeon for lung transplant surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
