Lung transplant
Lung Transplantation: Should Smoker’s Lungs Be Used as Donors for Lung Transplants
College Writing, GE201
April 10th, 2013
Lung Transplantation: Should Smoker’s Lungs be used as donors for lung Transplants
With the extreme shortage of vital organs for transplantations, research continues to decrease mortality rates of patients waiting for organs while on transplant waiting lists. While researchers found that receiving a lung from a donor with a smoking history correlated with worse three-year survival compared to receiving a lung from a donor with no smoking history, lungs from smokers should be used to enable patients on waiting list to prolong and improve quality of their life. (Bonser, et al, 2012)
Lung transplants are commonly recommended for patients under the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with severe types of lung and diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension. The procedure is not commonly considered for mild cases, but for those who have exhausted all other options and are likely to die without the transplant. Contraindications for the procedure include severe heart, liver and kidney disease as well as cancer or patients who are current smokers. (Chang, 2011)
Getting accepted onto a transplant list
Obtaining acceptance onto a transplant list includes a series of testing, evaluations and interviews to ensure the candidate is appropriate for the organ donation clinically and physiologically. Using complicated calculations, a Lung Allocation Score (LAS) is determined, which indicates where the patient will be placed on the transplant list. The LAS attempts to predict “how long a patient is likely to live after receiving a lung transplant” and “how long a patient would be expected to live after receiving the lung.” (Chang, 2011). The higher the score, the higher
College Writing, GE201
April 10th, 2013
Lung Transplantation: Should Smoker’s Lungs be used as donors for lung Transplants
With the extreme shortage of vital organs for transplantations, research continues to decrease mortality rates of patients waiting for organs while on transplant waiting lists. While researchers found that receiving a lung from a donor with a smoking history correlated with worse three-year survival compared to receiving a lung from a donor with no smoking history, lungs from smokers should be used to enable patients on waiting list to prolong and improve quality of their life. (Bonser, et al, 2012)
Lung transplants are commonly recommended for patients under the age of 65 who have been diagnosed with severe types of lung and diseases such as cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension. The procedure is not commonly considered for mild cases, but for those who have exhausted all other options and are likely to die without the transplant. Contraindications for the procedure include severe heart, liver and kidney disease as well as cancer or patients who are current smokers. (Chang, 2011)
Getting accepted onto a transplant list
Obtaining acceptance onto a transplant list includes a series of testing, evaluations and interviews to ensure the candidate is appropriate for the organ donation clinically and physiologically. Using complicated calculations, a Lung Allocation Score (LAS) is determined, which indicates where the patient will be placed on the transplant list. The LAS attempts to predict “how long a patient is likely to live after receiving a lung transplant” and “how long a patient would be expected to live after receiving the lung.” (Chang, 2011). The higher the score, the higher
References: Aleccia, J. (2013, April 14). Lungs from a pack a day smoker safe for tansplant, study finds. Retrieved from http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/29/16741714-lungs-from-pack-a-day-smokers-safe-for-transplant-study-finds?lite. Chang, L. (2011, March 02). Lung disease & respiratory health canter. Retrieved from www.webmd.com/lung/lung-transplant-surgery?page=2. Grush, L. (2013, January 29). Lungs from heavy smokers may be effective for double-lung transplant Hutchinson, C. (2010, June 16). Transplant surgeons don 't always tell patients about organ quality Lee, J., Kawut, S., Shah, R., Localio, R., Bellamy, S., Cantu, E., Kohl, B. & Demissie, E. (2013, March 06) Preidt, R. (2013, March 12). Lung transplant hazard may rise with obesity recipients, smoking donor Preidt, R. (3012, May 29). Use of smokers. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/healthday/use-of-smokers-lungs-for-transplant-has-pros-cons. What are the risks of lung transplants?. (2011, May 1). Retrieved from www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/lungtxp/risk.html. Worse survival for recipients of lungs from smokers. (2012, May 29). Health Day News.