Lung transplantation pneumology

It applies specifically to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and terminal lung diseases of other causes.

Evaluation and clarification

The selection of suitable candidates for lung transplantation is preceded by a defined assessment process, which includes a two-week, open-ended inpatient assessment in addition to assessment interviews. The selection of suitable candidates for lung transplantation is based on the consensus guidelines of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, ISHLT
), which have been published in the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation (Weill D, et al 2014).

Chances of success

The first lung transplant in Switzerland was performed in November 1992 at Zurich University Hospital. To date, over 640 patients have undergone lung transplantation at the University Hospital Zurich.

Thanks to medical advances and close care by the highly specialized, multidisciplinary team at the USZ, survival after a lung transplant at our center is now comparable with the results of other leading international centers. The 5-year survival rate after a lung transplant in Zurich is around 70%.

The aims of lung transplantation are to prolong life, improve quality of life and, for lung transplant recipients of working age, to enable them to work.

Cooperations

The Zurich lung transplant team cooperates with other national and international centers for lung transplantation directly or as part of the cooperation of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). Follow-up treatment is also possible at selected large pneumology departments in Switzerland (e.g. all university hospitals).