A Breath of Fresh Air - Lung Transplantation Has Come of Age

Abstract

A boundless spectrum of chronic lung diseases is said to effect over 500 million persons globally. Lung transplantation is a well-established therapeutic option for patients suffering from end-stage lung diseases, however waitlist mortality and primary graft failure remain major determinants as post-transplantation 5-year survival is just above 50 percent. Recent innovations in lung transplantation have been aimed at increasing organ availability, improving allograft quality, function, and longevity. Ex-vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) is an exciting modality responsible for multiple paths of lung allograft reconditioning as well as significantly extending preservation times. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS), specifically extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has consistently gained popularity not only for its use as a bridge to transplantation, but also its intraoperative role. In tandem, EVLP and ECMO have shown promising results in increasing the number of lung transplantations performed, therefore decreasing waitlist mortality. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and chronic lung allograft rejection (CLAD) continue to be the most feared predictors of poor outcomes. In this review we will highlight the historical progression of lung transplantation, its encumbrance, and the most recent advancements in promising techniques for long-term allograft protection and patient survival.