Lung Transplantation: Selection of Candidates

Abstract

Lung transplantation is a last-resort treatment option for patients with end stage lung disease. The procedure is being performed more frequently and scientific advances continue to be made, but the median post-transplant survival is far shorter than other solid organ transplant recipients. Candidate selection is a resource intensive process that attempts to balance risks of the procedure with the benefits of much higher quality of life. Transplant centers must weigh disease specific considerations, medical comorbidities, and psychosocial factors with the likelihood of a successful transplantation. While the candidate selection process is exceptionally challenging, it leads to many patients undergoing successful lung transplantation.