[Lung transplantation]

Over the last years lung-transplantation has evolved into an effective therapy for patients with end-stage disease pulmonary parenchyma or vessels. The main indications for lung-transplantation are pulmonary emphysema, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension. All diseases associated with chronic infections such as cystic fibrosis or bilateral bronchiectasis need a bilateral lung-transplantation. In addition we transplant bilaterally all patients with pulmonary hypertension and young patients with pulmonary emphysema. In all other cases, a unilateral lung-transplantation is the treatment of choice. Heart-lung-transplantation is generally applied in patients with Eisenmenger-syndrome. At the time of transplantation patients suffer from dyspnea NY-HA III-IV and are mostly oxygen dependent. Life expectancy is limited to 6 to 18 months. Over the last years nearly 5000 lung-transplantations were performed worldwide. Survival rate after 1 year was 70 to 90% and 60 to 70% after 3 years respectively. In Switzerland there were approximately 80 lung-transplants performed since 1992 with a one year survival rate of approximately 75%.