Lung transplantation in chronic airflow limitation

Lung transplantation is an option for appropriately selected patients with end-stage chronic airflow limitation. The functional results have been excellent after single or bilateral lung transplantation, and the medium-term survival results have been good. Obliterative bronchiolitis, however, thought to be a manifestation of chronic rejection, occurs in approximately 40% of recipients, and it is the major cause of late morbidity and mortality in lung transplant recipients.