Lung transplant
A lung transplant is a complex operation and the risk of complications is high.
Some complications are related to theoperation itself. Others are a result of the immunosuppressive medication which is neededto prevent your body rejecting the new lungs.
Some of the complications are discussed below.
Reimplantation response is a common complication affecting almost all people with a lung transplant. The effectsof surgery and the interruption to theblood supply cause thelungstofill with fluid.
Symptoms include:
The symptomsare usuallyat theirworstfive days after the transplant. These problems will gradually improve, and most people are free of symptoms by 10 days after their transplant.
Rejection is a normal reaction of the body. When a new organ is transplanted, your body's immune system treats it as a threat and produces antibodies against it, which can stop it working properly.Most people experience rejection, usually during the first three months after the transplant.
Shortness of breath, fatigue (extreme tiredness), and adry cough are all symptomsof rejection, although mild cases may not always cause symptoms.
Acute rejection usually responds well to treatment with steroid medication .
Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is another form of rejection thattypically occurs in the first year after the transplant, but could occur up to a decade later.
In BOS, the immune system causes the airways inside the lungs to become inflamed, which blocks the flow of oxygen through the lungs.
Symptoms include:
BOS may be treated with additional immunosuppressant medications.
After having a lung transplant, your risk of developing a lymphoma (usually a non-Hodgkin lymphoma ) is increased. This is known as post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).
PTLD occurs when a viral infection(usually the Epstein-Barr virus) develops as a result ofthe immunosuppressants that are used to stop your body rejecting the new organ.
PTLD affects around one in 20 people who have a lung transplant. Most cases occur within the first year of the transplant. It can usually be treated by reducing or withdrawing immunosuppressant therapy .
The Lymphoma Association has more information about lymphomas after organ transplantation (PDF, 232kb) .
The risk of infection for people who've received a lung transplant is higher than average for a number of reasons, including:
Common infections after a transplant include:
Taking immunosuppressant medications is necessary following any type of transplant, although they do increase your risk of developing other health conditions.
These health conditions are described below.
Kidney disease is a common long-term complication. It's estimated that one in four people who receive a lung transplant will develop some degree of kidney disease a year after the transplant.
About1 in 14 people will experience kidney failure within a year of their transplant, rising to1 in 10 after five years.
Diabetes, specifically type 2 diabetes , develops in around one in four people a year after the transplant.
Diabetes is treated using a combination of:
High blood pressure develops in around half of all people a year after a lung transplant and in eight out of 10 people after five years.
High blood pressure can develop due to a side effect of immunosuppressants or as a complication of kidney disease.
Like diabetes, high blood pressure is treated using a combination of lifestyle changes and medication.
Osteoporosis (weakening of the bones) usually arises as a side-effect of immunosuppressant use.
Treatment options for osteoporosis include vitamin D supplements (which help strengthen bones) and a type of medication known as bisphosphonates, which help maintain bone density.
People who have received a lung transplant have an increased risk of developing cancer at a later date. This would usually be one of the following:
Because of this increased risk, regular check-ups for these sorts of cancers may be recommended.
Find out about lung transplants, including when one is needed, the different types of transplant, what the procedure involves and the associated risks.
If a lung transplant is thought to be an option for you, you will be referred for a transplant assessment.
Find out what happens during a lung transplant and read about new surgical techniques.
Some complications of a lung transplant are related to the procedure itself. Others occur as a result of having to take immunosuppressive medication.
Read about recovering from a lung transplant, including information about follow-up appointments, immunosuppressant therapy and preventing infection.
Born with cystic fibrosis, Sammi Sparke is now embarking on a new life thanks to an organ donor who gave her a new set of lungs and her father's donation of a kidney.