A lung transplant may be the best option for some people with severe lung disease.
The procedure can improve your quality of life and help you live longer.
However, there are serious risks, such as infection and rejection.
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And long-term use of anti-rejection drugs can increase the risk of other health problems.
Lungs are very fragile organs.
That may be why the survival rate doesn’t match that of other solidorgan transplants.
The median survival rate after a single-lung transplant is 4.6 years.
This article discusses general survival rates and what to expect after surgery.
Keep in mind that these are general statistics, and they may vary by facility.
Some people survive 20 years or more after a lung transplant.
Lung transplant survival rates may vary by age.
The youngest and oldest adults have the lowest survival rates.
One study of over 14,000 people found that the median age at transplant is 59.
Research Studies
Survival rates for lung recipients tell a story, but not the whole story.
How does this survival rate compare to that of the general population?
A study published in 2022 set out to answer that question.
Researchers compared adults who had lung transplantation between 1990 and 2007 with the general population.
What to Expect
You’ll start taking anti-rejection medicine right away.
The transplant team will tell you how to take care of theincision siteto prevent infection.
Over time, taking immune suppressants can lead to:
Regular doctor appointments can help catch potential problems early.
Becauselungsare so fragile, life expectancy is shorter than with other solid organ transplants.
Recovery from the surgery can take up to six months.
But it can help youbreathebetter and improve your quality of life.
However, you’ll need to take immunosuppressants for the rest of your life.
This will help prevent your body from rejecting your new organ.
A Word From Verywell
A lung transplant is generally a treatment of last resort.
The procedure to get on thewaiting list, and the waiting itself, is likely to be stressful.
Also, the surgery is risky.
But a successful lung transplant can add years to your life.
You’ll always need to take care of your health, take immunosuppressants, and see your doctor regularly.
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