Nov. 20, 2024
A lung transplant involves one or both lungs and is sometimes performed as a multiorgan transplant, such as heart-lung, lung-liver or lung-heart-liver. Thanks to significant medical advancements, life expectancy after lung transplantation continues to improve.
"Lung transplantation is an option for those patients with end-stage lung disease who have continued to decline and have failed all available surgical and medical therapies," says Ashraf Omar, M.B., B.Ch., the medical director of the new Lung Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
When to refer for lung transplant evaluation
People with serious lung disease who meet certain criteria for lung function can undergo evaluation for treatment with a lung transplant. Most major lung diseases that may lead to transplant have their own guidelines for when transplant surgery evaluation is appropriate. However, some characteristics to consider for lung transplant referral include:
- End-stage lung disease limiting life expectancy or producing significant disability.
- Lung disease that is refractory to other medical or surgical therapies.
- No active contraindication to transplant.
- No malignancy within the past two years.
- No multiorgan failure (in most people).
Ideal patients for lung transplant are those who are in otherwise good health despite their lung disease.
Although age doesn't automatically eliminate patients from being considered for lung transplant, older age does make it harder to be healthy enough for surgery.
Indications for lung transplant
Some of the common indications for lung transplant include:
- Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
- COPD and emphysema.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Interstitial lung disease.
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
- Pulmonary fibrosis.
- Pulmonary hypertension.
- Sarcoidosis.
- Severe bronchiectasis.
- Refractory or progressive lung disease.
Because there is no such thing as an emergent transplant, it's better to see patients earlier in their disease processes, Dr. Omar says, adding that if patients are progressing to end-stage lung disease and transplantation is in line with their values and wishes, referring them to a transplant center is the right thing to do.
Increased volume, strong outcomes
When referring physicians choose Mayo Clinic's Lung Transplant Program for their patients' care, they choose a program that has completed more than 900 lung transplants since 1990. In 2023, teams at Mayo Clinic's campuses in Florida and Minnesota performed 148 transplants, a record number of lung transplant surgeries for the program.
We are excited to share that in 2024, we launched our Lung Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Our Arizona campus boasts a strong existing infrastructure including top national rankings for pulmonology and lung surgery along with staff members who are leaders in pulmonary pathology.
"Being the one of the largest transplant centers in the nation and now offering the full spectrum of transplantation care to our patients is incredibly exciting" says Jonathan D'Cunha, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the surgical director of the Lung Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "Our lung transplant program is supported by unparalleled expertise. The comprehensive care team includes transplant pulmonologists, critical care physicians, cardiothoracic surgeons, immunologists, nurses, coordinators, social workers, respiratory therapists and other healthcare professionals, all of whom have extensive experience in solid organ transplants and decades of combined experience from renowned centers."
Mayo Clinic's Lung Transplant Program maintains high patient satisfaction rates in Press Ganey survey reports, which show that more than 90% of people who are candidates for or recipients of lung transplant at Mayo Clinic would recommend care there. In addition, national Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients reporting shows strong survival outcomes post-transplantation.
Patients and their referring physicians can feel confident turning to us and relying on our expertise with all lung diseases, multiorgan transplants, lung restoration and supportive therapies.
At Mayo Clinic, a transplant care plan is designed for each patient's unique needs. We offer a range of specialized services, including:
- Affordable housing for patients undergoing transplant.
- Dual-listing opportunities to increase chances of a faster transplant.
- Virtual appointments to ensure easy access to care.
- Access to clinical trials.
For more information
Lung Transplant Program. Mayo Clinic.
Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.
Refer a patient to Mayo Clinic.