Lung Transplantation for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the leading cause of death amongst chronic respiratory diseases. Because of its protracted course, COPD is the most important contributor to the number of years lived with disability. Over the last 40years lung transplantation has emerged as the predominant surgical treatment for patients with end stage respiratory diseases. The interplay of variable lung function decline, comorbidities and overlap with other respiratory diseases hinder easy selection of COPD candidates for transplantation. Post-transplantation, perioperative mortality continues to decrease but chronic allograft dysfunction, infections and complications of immunossupresive regimens continue to be major barriers to long term survival.