Lung transplant surgery carries risks that can affect survival, including infections, rejection, and complications. Postoperative care and compliance with doctor’s orders are also critical. The facility and gender of the donor and recipient may also impact survival rates.
Lung transplant surgery is often performed to replace a non-functioning lung or lungs, and patients who qualify for this procedure usually suffer from severe lung disease. A number of risk factors may be involved with lung transplantation, some of which may directly affect lung transplant survival. These include the patient’s current health status, the presence of infections or complications after surgery, lung transplant rejection, postoperative care, and compliance with doctor’s orders. The facility where the lung transplant took place and the gender of the recipient and donor can also affect the survival rate.
Infection or other health complications that occur after a lung transplant can further affect one’s chances of survival. The lung may be susceptible to infection due to impaired mucus clearance and cough reflexes. A suppressed immune system to avoid lung transplant rejection can also contribute to the risk of infection. Fever, increased white blood cell count, and positive sputum cultures may be early indicators of infection.
Additional health complications that may affect lung transplant survival include cardiovascular problems, coagulopathy, and gastrointestinal problems. A change in blood flow or an irregular heartbeat may occur after surgery but may be treatable with medication. Coagulopathy is a bleeding disorder in which the body’s blood does not clot properly. This can lead to excessive bleeding, but may be treatable with blood platelets. Gastrointestinal complications can include nausea and vomiting, which can last up to six months after the transplant.
Lung transplant rejection often occurs at least once during the postoperative period and usually within three months of the transplant. This is known as acute rejection and indicates that the recipient’s body perceives the transplanted lung as an invader. Drugs that suppress the immune system can help with this, but chronic rejection can also result. Chronic rejection is usually characterized by a decrease in the patient’s respiratory function. If so, the transplant surgery may need to be repeated.
Postoperative care is usually another factor in determining lung transplant survival. Patients, for example, often need to be positioned correctly in their hospital beds to allow for airway clearance and strong breathing patterns. Additional components of patient care may include early recognition of life-threatening complications, helping the patient return to normal activities as soon as possible, and maintaining medications. Care of the bronchial and tracheal openings from surgery is also important.
Once a patient leaves the hospital or care facility, following prescribed medication orders and physician instructions are often critical to survival. A patient’s physical abilities can improve with doctor-approved exercise and dietary plans. Scheduling routine checkups and eliminating dangerous habits such as smoking can further affect your lung transplant survival rate.
Some indicators also suggest that the facility where lung transplantation takes place may be related to survival. Centers or hospitals that perform large volumes of lung transplants may be related to higher survival rates. The gender of the donor and recipient can also affect lung transplant survival. Some healthcare professionals speculate that male-to-female lung transplants are not as successful as female-to-male surgeries.
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