The Basic Types of Lung Transplants

Practicing with Cardiac Surgery Associates, SC, in Lafayette, Indiana, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has extensive knowledge of complex conditions affecting the heart and lungs. Focused on advanced-stage and high-risk patients, Dr. Hartmuth Bittner has decades of surgical experience related to advanced heart and lung transplants.

Lung transplants involve removing a diseased lung and switching it with a healthy replacement from another individual. This can take the form of either a single or double lung transplant. Another option is bilateral sequential, which involves transplanting both lungs, but doing so one lung at a time. In addition, heart-lung transplants involve both lungs and a heart received from a single donor.

A majority of such operations involve cadaveric transplants, or lungs received from organ donors who are deceased. In some cases, healthy adults who do not smoke may also donate a portion, or lobe, of one of their lungs. When such a living transplant case occurs, donors are still able to function as normal with their remaining lungs.

Because of the complex, serious nature of a lung transplant, these procedures are generally reserved for those whose lung problems have been unresponsive to treatment, and who have a life expectancy of between 1 to 2 years if they do not receive a transplant. Common issues requiring such a procedure include pulmonary hypertension, severe cystic fibrosis, COPD, and heart disease.