En el trasplante de pulmón, uno o ambos pulmones dañados se reemplazan con los pulmones de un donante. Es posible que se ofrezca si la enfermedad empeora rápidamente o es muy grave.^1,2 Un trasplante de pulmón puede mejorar su calidad de vida y ayudarlo a vivir por más tiempo.^1,³

No obstante, se trata de una operación importante que conlleva riesgos serios. Una serie de razones pueden hacer que no sea idóneo para ciertos pacientes, como por ejemplo en el caso de infecciones que no pueden curarse o la adicción a sustancias.¹Tras un trasplante de pulmón, deberá recibir ciertos medicamentos por el resto de su vida.

Lamentablemente, el trasplante de pulmón no es una cura. Es una decisión que no se debe tomar livianamente y necesita consideración y una cuidadosa evaluación.

No todas las personas con fibrosis pulmonar son elegibles para un trasplante de pulmón; algunos pacientes pueden presentar otras enfermedades o afecciones coexistentes, como hipertensión arterial, que hacen que un trasplante de pulmón sea imposible. Muchos programas tienen un límite de edad de entre 60 y 65 años. Además, hay solo una pequeña cantidad de órganos de donante disponibles para el trasplante.^1,4-6 Por consiguiente, incluso aunque sea elegible, es posible que deba inscribirse en una larga lista de espera para un trasplante.

This means that very few patients with pulmonary fibrosis will receive a transplant. However, it can be a good option for a small number of patients.

QUICK TIP

If you think you could be eligible for a lung transplant, make sure you speak to your treatment team. They will have a complete picture of the different aspects of your health and will be able to start the process if you are eligible

The goals of lung transplantation are to improve the longevity and quality of your life.¹

What to consider before talking to your treatment team about a lung transplant^1,7

You must be in good overall health with no other life-threatening illnesses such as kidney failure, heart failure, heart disease or cancer
You need to have stopped smoking for at least six months before a transplant. You may have to take tests to confirm you are no longer smoking
Your alcohol intake should be minimal
You need to be able to take different types of medications to ensure the success of your lung transplant
You must be at a healthy bodyweight

Your treatment team may address the possibility of a lung transplant as early as the time of diagnosis. They will assess whether you meet all the criteria for a lung transplant and will discuss the potential risks and benefits with you.

Key takeaways

A lung transplant replaces the damaged lungs with those from a donor and can help improve your quality of life

It is a major operation with risks involved that should be discussed with your treatment team

Only a small number of people are eligible for a lung transplant

Orens JB, Estenne M, Arcasoy S, et al. International guidelines for the selection of lung transplant candidates: 2006 update - a consensus report from the Pulmonary Scientific Council of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006;25(7):745–755.
Thabut G, Mal H, Castier Y, et al. Survival benefit of lung transplantation for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126(2):469–475.
Holtze C, Flaherty K, Kreuter M, et al. Healthcare utilisation and costs in the diagnosis and treatment of progressive-fibrosing interstitial lung diseases. Eur Respir Rev. 2018;27(150):180078.
Meltzer EB, Noble PW. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2008;3:8.
Raghu G, Rochwerg B, Zhang Y, et al. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. An Update of the 2011 Clinical Practice Guideline. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015;192(2):e3–e19.
Courtwright A, Cantu E. Lung transplantation in elderly patients. J Thorac Dis. 2017;9(9):3346–3351.
NHS Choices. Lung transplant preparation. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lung-transplant/preparation/#why-a-lung-transplant-might-be-unsuitable [Accessed March 2022].