A lung transplant is a specialized surgery in which damaged or unhealthy lungs are replaced with healthy lungs, often from a deceased donor, as a last resort when all other treatments have failed. A lung transplant can include the transplantation of a single lung, two lungs, or a heart and both lungs. Most lung transplants utilize lungs from deceased donors, although adults with healthy lungs can donate a lobe of their lung in a process known as a living transplant.
Damaged or unhealthy lungs make breathing difficult, and all other body functions are affected as a result. Medication and breathing devices are generally used to treat lung issues initially. When these fail, doctors recommend a single or double lung transplant based on the patient’s condition.
The doctor will recommend a lung transplant based on an assessment of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, and psychological evaluation. Next, the search for a donor organ begins. Since the number of available lungs is significantly less than the need for lung transplants, the waiting period may be prolonged, lasting months.
The ideal lung would be from a donor of the same blood type and body size who is in relatively good condition. If doctors identify a suitable lung or pair of lungs, they conduct compatibility tests on the donor’s lungs and the patient and subsequently carry out the transplant.
The lung transplant is performed by surgeons while the patient is under general anesthesia, resulting in no pain or discomfort. The surgeon inserts a tube into the windpipe, makes a chest incision, removes the damaged lungs through the incision, and replaces them with healthy donor lungs, connecting all blood vessels and airways. The lung transplant is completed by closing the incision.
Following lung transplant surgery, the patient spends a few days in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where a mechanical ventilator supports their breathing. Tubes are also connected to remove fluids from the chest, and intravenous medicines are administered by doctors to manage pain and reduce the risk of rejection or infection. The mechanical ventilator is removed within a few days, and the patient is moved out of the ICU. Full recovery can take one to three months.
Lung transplant is a significant surgery with significant risks involved.
Lung transplant cost in Chennai: Presently, lung transplant is only performed in Chennai, and as the only state to have such a facility, the costs are generally higher. With experienced doctors and affordable packages available for lung transplants, this is the ideal location for the procedure.
