Patient selection, evaluation, and preoperative management for lung transplant candidates

The selection process to assess candidacy for transplant is based on medical and psychosocial criteria and surgical considerations. The degree of disease severity requiring transplantation for survival has become more apparent as the disparity in survival outcome widens between patients with and without transplant. The contraindications to transplant surgery have been modified over time. Candidate selection is considered in the context of the risks and benefits of the surgical procedure on a case by case basis. The wait for transplant has increased as the growth in the number of candidates for transplant exceeds available donors. As much as 30% of patients die on the UNOS waiting list.