Respiratory SystemStructure and Function |
Can lungs be transplanted? |
Lung transplantation is surgery used to replace one or both diseased lungs with a healthy lung or lungs. It is only recommended if the patient has end-stage pulmonary disease that cannot be treated any other way. Examples of end-stage pulmonary diseases include emphysema, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Survival rates for lung transplants are as high as 80 percent at one year and 60 percent at four years after surgery.