[Lung transplantation--present status worldwide and in the Czech Republic]

Lung transplantation has evolved to a standard treatment modality for patients suffering from end-stage lung diseases and it provides very good short- and satisfactory long-term survival. Accepted indications for lung transplantation include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other causes of emphysema (i.e., alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency), parenchymal diseases (i.e., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis), genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis, vascular diseases (i.e., primary pulmonary hypertension), chronic infectious diseases (i.e., bronchiectasis), as well as rare indications such as lymphangioleiomyomatosis or sarcoidosis. Presented article reviews the current strategies in the treatment of lung transplant recipients, surgical techniques, limitations of and effects of lung transplantation.