Lungtransplantationer i Sverige – över 1 200 patienter sedan 1990

Lung transplantation is an accepted treatment for end stage lung diseases and performed at two national centers in Sweden - Gothenburg and Lund. Since the start in 1990 over 1 200 patients have been transplanted.  The indications are severe progressive lung diseases with short expected survival or severe negative effects on daily life. There are several contraindications among which severe other organ disease, recent malignancy or psychiatric disease are most important.  The most common causes for lung transplantation are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.  Long term survival after 5 years is 63 %, and after 10 years 48 %, which is better than the results reported in the international registry (57 % and 36 % respectively).   Lung transplantation is today a therapy for end stage pulmonary diseases with acceptable survival results. It is likely that the number of patients will increase in the future.