Lung transplantation is a very delicate surgery, which is performed when one or both of an individual's lungs are irretrievably damaged and no longer respond to any other type of treatment.
To make it necessary various pathological conditions are very serious, such as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, advanced stage sarcoidosis and pulmonary hypertension.
Depending on the disease, transplantation of one or both lungs may be required. For example, in the case of pulmonary fibrosis, transplanting a single lung would be enough; in the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or cystic fibrosis, a double transplant is required; finally, in the case of pulmonary hypertension or sarcoidosis, a heart-lung transplant must be performed.
