Cystic Fibrosis Patients Must Meet Criteria to Receive Lung Transplants

Lung Transplantation in cystic fibrosis patients is not always necessary. It all depends on the amount of lung damage due to the disease and the health of the patient.

In cystic fibrosis, lung transplantation is done when continual damage to the lungs cannot be averted and lung failure is imminent. Because the lungs have become damaged and there is fatigue and a shortness of breath, the lungs are unable to keep the flow and exchange of oxygen moving at a rate that the cells need to function; the lack of the ability to breathe diminishes quality of life.

At this point, the doctor will probably prescribe oxygen therapy, which will help for awhile, but there is a point when because of the damage, lung failure starts to set in and quality of life diminishes. It is at this point that the doctor will probably recommend lung transplantation.

Lung transplantation is done when it can lengthen life expectancy and improve quality of life. In these cases, there will be a screening where a board of doctors determines if the person with lung damage due to cystic fibrosis is a prime candidate for lung transplantation.

The doctors' criteria include:

1. Must be physically capable of undergoing surgery.
2. Must not have other damaged organs.
3. Will undergo a bone density test - must not have osteoporosis.
4. Low exercise capacity.
5. Any other tests the doctors might deem necessary.

If the doctors feel that the person with cystic fibrosis is a good candidate for lung transplantation, they will be put on the list.

It is an unfortunate fact that more people apply for lung transplantation than those who are able to receive lung transplantation, due to a shortage of organs. Only about 150 people each year are able to receive lung transplants.

Ninety percent of those with cystic fibrosis who have the lung transplantation are still alive after their surgery, and 50 percent are still alive 5 years later. These are good percentages, when you figure that most of these people wouldn't be alive if it weren't for the surgery.

Because our bodies naturally reject foreign objects, including organs, immunosuppressive drugs must be taken to keep the body from rejecting the lungs. They must be taken for life. The cause of great concern for those with cystic fibrosis is that these immunosuppressive drugs make it harder to fight infection, which can lead to lung disease.

All in all, lung transplantation, when it gives people longer, quality lives is good thing.