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Lung transplant - Risks

Alternative Names

Solid organ transplant - lung

Risks:

Risks from any anesthesia are:

  • Breathing problems
  • Reactions to the medications

Risks from any surgery are:

  • Bleeding
  • Infection

Other risks of transplant include:

  • Blood clots (deep venous thrombosis)
  • Diabetes, bone thinning, or high cholesterol levels from the medications given after a transplant
  • Increased risk for infections due to anti-rejection (immunosuppression) medications
  • Damage to your kidneys, liver, or other organs from anti-rejection medications
  • Future risk of certain cancers

Risks of lung transplant include:

  • Problems at the place where the new blood vessels and airways were attached
  • Rejection of the new lung, which may happen right away, within the first 4 to 6 weeks, or over time
  • Reviewed last on: 5/4/2011
  • Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Smythe WR, Reznik Si, Putnam JB Jr. Lung (including pulmonary embolism and thoracic outlet syndrome). In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008: chap 59.

Solomon M, Grasemann H, Keshavjee S. Pediatric lung transplantation. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2010; 57(2):375-391.

Flume PA, Mogayzel PJ Jr, Robinson KA, Rosenblatt RL, Quittell L, Marshall BC; Clinical Practice Guidelines for Pulmonary Therapies Committee; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Pulmonary Therapies Committee. Cystic fibrosis pulmonary guidelines: Pulmonary complications: hemoptysis and pneumothorax. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 182(3):298-306.

Kotloff RM. Lung transplantation. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus CV, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:chap 95.

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