[Specific features of lung collection from a donor with a beating heart: criteria and technique]

Lung transplantations remain the latest organ transplantation gaining a broad spectrum of clinical applications. It has become an approved treatment method for patients suffering from lung disorders in the terminal phase. The number of transplantations is limited by a lack of suitable organs, increasing patients waiting lists mortality rates. This article provides information on criteria required for the lung collections to be accepted, and also, a detailed description of the combined lung and heart collection technique for unilateral of bilateral lung transplantations. The above technique has been used routinely, undergoing several modifications, in the Czech Republic since 1997, when the lung transplantation programme commenced. 60 lung collections from exited donors were performed until the end of 2003. The aim of the information provided in this article, is to aid mutual cooperation with M.D.s caring for the donor and cooperation of surgeons of all teams, participating in the multiorgan transplantation, which will finally allow the number and quality of the collected organs to be increased.