Living Lobar Lung Transplant
Lobar lung transplantation is becoming an alternative for those patients who are too critically ill to survive the waiting list for cadaveric donors. The donors are friends or family members of the patient. There are two donors, each donating a lobe to the recipient. Possible lobar donors are screened thoroughly to determine if they would make a suitable candidate.
Living-Related Double Lobar Lung Transplant
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Illustration demonstrating the portion of each donor lung to be transplanted into patient recipient. The two lobes have the ability to provide normal function, accounting for the increasing popularity of this type of transplantation.
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The first step in becoming a donor is to determine the blood type and lung function capacity by spirometry in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory. There will be numerous diagnostic and blood tests performed. The results of the tests will determine donor suitability. The lower lobe from each donor will be taken and placed into the recipient to take the place of their diseased lungs.
In our experience, the donors do well after surgery. They are up walking 24-48 hours post operatively and usually are discharged in 1-2 weeks. The long term effects for the donors are minimal to none.
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