Lung
Transplant for Mesothelioma Patients - How To, Risks Associated,
Symptoms & Prognosis
(August 3rd, 2008)
 Lung
transplants become a necessary survival option for mesothelioma
patients when a person's respiratory system has been damaged to
a level where he/she will not be able to live without a replacement
lung. For instance in a disease known as pulmonary fibrosis, the
lungs become so scarred such that their air sacs are replaced with
fibrotic tissues. These tissues accumulate in masses and lose the
lung's ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. It is of
utmost important that the lungs be able to transfer oxygen to the
rest of the body via the bloodstream and when this is interrupted,
the patient's life is threatened. Once the lungs become extremely
scarred, there is no reversal, meaning they cannot heal themselves;
thus a lung transplant will be necessary. A lung transplant surgery
is a complicated task and can only occur when the right donor is
available. The donor's lungs are carefully removed and immediately
transported to the hospital where the receiving patient is being
cared for. Since lungs can only be preserved for 5-6 hours, it is
important that once they are extracted from the donor's body, they
be immediately delivered to the receiving patient.
How Is a Lung Transplant Performed?
 A
lung transplant surgery is performed under general anesthesia where
the patient is lifeless and cannot feel any pain. The recipient's
heart is stopped and an artificial breathing machine is used to
maintain the body's stasis. An incision is made through the breast
bone and a heart-lung bypass machine controls the blood circulation
and provides oxygen levels to the body. Once the patient's heart
and lungs are removed, the donor's heart and lungs are stitched
into place. After this, the heart-lung bypass machine is disconnected
and blood flows through the donor's heart and air flows in to the
donor's lungs. The patient will have to stay under intensive care
unit for several days as any heart failure risk is fatal. The image
above shows vascular attachments where new transplanted lungs &
heart are stitched into the receiving patient's body.
A lung transplant surgery is recommended for patients with severely
diseased lungs or severely damaged heart or both. It is not recommended
for patients with poor kidney or liver functions. The risks for
taking the general anesthesia include breathing problems & reactions
to medications. Risks for the surgery itself include infection &
excessive bleeding. More risks for the lung transplant surgery are:
- Failure of the donor's lungs & heart
- Rejection of any transplanted organs
- Infection caused by taking anti-rejection (immunosuppression)
medicine
- Stroke
- Blood clots
Are You Eligible for Lung Transplant Surgery?
 Your
eligibility for lung transplant surgery will be assessed and examined
by a few parties including:
- A pulmonologist (lung specialist)
- Your surgeon
- Your family doctor
- Lung Transplant coordinator
If you are approved for a lung transplant surgery, you will have
to go on a waiting list for several months to 1-2 years. Furthermore,
it is also important to know that you will have to take medications
for the rest of your life to keep your body from rejecting the new
transplated lungs. An example of such drugs include cyclosporine
and corticosteroids.
Here are the list of symptoms that might cause you discomfort a
few weeks after the lung transplant surgery is complete:
- Rapid weight loss
- Chest discomfort
- Chronic dry cough
- Weakness or feeling of fatigue
- Shortness of breath
Prognosis
A heart transplant surgery is only conducted if the chances of
success are really high. It is estimated 40% - 50% of patients can
live for another 4-5 years. Some of the setbacks for success of
a heart transplant surgery include finding the right donor, the
chance for the body to reject the new transplanted lungs/heart,
and the cost of surgery & medications. Recovery period after
surgery is normally 6 months and the patient will have to undergo
many x-rays during this time.
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