Lung Transplants

Successful lung transplantation was first performed in the early 1980's. People with breathing problems serious enough to threaten their life, who cannot be cured with medication or standard surgery, are considered for either single or double lung transplantations. Patients who also have serious heart problems may need a heart as well: these individuals are listed for a combined heart and double lung transplant.

The most common diseases that lead to this need for lung or heart-lung transplantation are emphysema, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, congenital heart disease and primary pulmonary hypertension.

Lung transplantation was attempted as early as 1963. The very first successful heart and lung transplant took place in Standord, California in 1981. The first successful lung transplant in the world was done in Toronto in 1983.