Lung Transplantation
Cadaveric transplantation has become a viable treatment option for patients with end stage cardiopulmonary disease. Patients eligible for pulmonary transplantation include any person who is severely debilitated by their cardiopulmonary disease and is not hampered by any other organ system dysfunction. Candidates frequently have the diagnosis of obstructive lung disease (e.g. emphysema. cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis), pulmonary hypertension (both primary and secondary or pulmonary fibrosis (e.g. sarcoidosis, IPF, silicosis). This same team performs all cardiothoracic transplants for pediatric patients at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
Living lobar lung transplantation was pioneered by Dr. Starnes at USC University Hospital and provides an alternative therapy for severely ill patients who are unlikely to survive the waiting that is often required for cadaveric organs to be available. Dr. Starnes was the first in the world to perform a double-lobar living related transplant on a patient with cystic fibrosis. Strict criteria must be met before a patient can qualify for these living related procedures.
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