While technically possible to donate a lobe of a lung, donating an entire lung while living is not generally performed. Historically, living donors could donate a lobe of their lung to someone in need, but it's uncommon now.
Living Lung Donation: Details
Living lung donation typically involves donating a lobe (section) of a lung, not an entire lung. Here's a breakdown:
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What is donated: Usually, a living donor donates a lobe from one of their lungs. This is because removing an entire lung is too risky for the donor's long-term health.
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Why it's uncommon: The procedure carries significant risks for the donor, and advancements in deceased-donor lung transplants have made living-donor lung transplants less frequent.
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Who is it for: Living-donor lobar lung transplantation is typically considered for recipients with smaller chests or those who are critically ill and unlikely to survive the wait for a deceased donor lung. Typically the recipients are children.
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Risks to the donor: As with any major surgery, there are risks involved, including pain, infection, bleeding, blood clots, and prolonged recovery. There can also be long-term impacts on the donor's lung function and exercise capacity.
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Long-term Considerations: Donors need to be aware of potential long-term health effects and commit to regular follow-up appointments.
Deceased Donor Lung Transplants
Deceased donor lung transplants are far more common than living-donor lung transplants. These involve receiving one or both lungs from someone who has recently died.
Is it possible to donate one entire lung while alive?
Due to the critical function of lungs, and the body's need for sufficient respiratory capacity, donating an entire lung while alive is not standard practice. The risks to the donor are too high. Donating a lobe is very risky already.
In summary, while donating a portion (lobe) of a lung is possible, donating a whole lung while alive is not. Consult with a transplant center for the most up-to-date information and to assess your specific situation.
