Pulmonary transplant. Transplantation for end-stage lung disease: a nurse's perspective

The types of lung transplants are single lung (performed on either side), double lung en bloc (which requires total cardiopulmonary bypass and myocardial protection), and bilateral-sequential lung transplant (which uses separate single lung transplants with separate main stem bronchial anastomoses). Single lung transplants are used for restrictive lung disorders, such as pulmonary fibrosis; double lung procedures are used for patients with obstructive lung disease, such as emphysema, and bilateral-sequential lung transplantation is used in patients diagnosed with generalized bronchiectasis, including cystic fibrosis, or any other chronically infected lung disease. The criteria for differentiating single versus bilateral transplantation is constantly being evaluated and redefined. The future of lung transplantation depends on continued research, improved methods of preservation, improved care to potential donors, and an increase in the availability of donors.