During a lung transplant, the diseased lung(s) are surgically removed and replaced with healthy donor lung(s). The process involves connecting the new lung's blood vessels and airways to the recipient's system.
The Lung Transplant Procedure: A Step-by-Step Overview
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Anesthesia: The recipient is placed under general anesthesia.
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Incision: The surgeon makes an incision in the chest. The type of incision depends on whether one lung (single lung transplant) or both lungs (double lung transplant) are being replaced. Incisions can be made on one side of the chest, across the chest (clamshell incision), or through the breastbone (sternotomy).
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Lung Removal: The diseased lung (or lungs) are carefully disconnected from the pulmonary artery, pulmonary veins, and airway (bronchus).
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Donor Lung Preparation: The donor lung is prepared and inspected to ensure its viability.
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Lung Implantation: The donor lung is placed in the chest cavity.
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Vascular and Airway Connections: The surgeon connects the donor lung's pulmonary artery and veins to the corresponding vessels in the recipient's chest. The donor bronchus is then connected to the recipient's airway. For a bilateral sequential transplant (double lung transplant), the lungs are transplanted one at a time.
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Testing Function: The transplanted lung is checked for proper function and blood flow.
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Chest Tube Placement: Chest tubes are inserted to drain air and fluid from the chest cavity.
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Closure: The incision is closed with sutures or surgical staples.
Important Considerations:
- Types of Lung Transplants: Single lung transplant (one lung replaced), double lung transplant (both lungs replaced), and heart-lung transplant (both heart and lungs replaced).
- Timing: In a double lung transplant, the second lung is typically transplanted soon after the first, but the precise timing can vary.
- Post-operative Care: Following the transplant, the recipient will require intensive monitoring, immunosuppressant medications to prevent rejection, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
The entire process can take several hours per lung, depending on the complexity of the case. Successful lung transplantation can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and extend their lifespan.
