Lung transplant is a ray of hope. Lung transplantation propose a probable treatment for persistently progressive lung illness.
Respiratory illness are one among the biggest killers around the world. They stand 2nd, in causing death in India, next to accidents. Respiratory illness is responsible for sufferings and they are also pose a huge burden on economy of the nation.
The depiction is overwhelming if the younger people or the earning family members are affected with these chaos. Thousands of people from all age group are sufferers of these dreadful conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrotic lung illness, bronchiectasis (a type of fibrocystic lung disease), or idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension.
Cataloguing patients with these diseases used to be like announcing a death sentence, as they progress relentlessly with time in spite of getting the best existing medical treatment. Auspiciously, this is no longer true, developing technology as lung transplantation has revolutionized the treatment of chronic respiratory diseases. Despite the fact that India has made its remarkable achievements in other organ transplant, lung transplant is yet in its childhood. India, even though facing a largest burden of respiratory disease, is padding far behind in its lung transplant programme. India has done less than 200 lung transplants so far, whereas over 50 thousand lung transplants have been performed around the world.
How does lung transplantation help?
Lung transplant is a ray of hope for damaged patient.
1. Lung transplantation provides a probable treatment option for extremely selected patients with advanced chronic lung disease who persist to get worse in spite of maximal medical therapy. Patients who are unable to do perform their regular work, and are hardly able to walk and are reliant on oxygen therapy for a long duration are the patient who can take the advantage of transplant.
2. In lung transplantation, the lungs (either one or both) are taken from a dead organ donor and transplanted into the recipient. The recipient is primarily assessed thoroughly for suitability of transplant and if appropriate donor is accessible, transplant is done within a narrow window of 6 hours after they are collected.
3. The lung is an active organ in the immune process, so moderately intensive immunosuppression is essential to make sure that the receivers immune system does not refuse the transplanted lung/s. As a consequence the receiver is probably exposed to infective organisms through the air we breathe.
4. Lung transplant not only require medical expert but also require incredible support and dedication. Despite the fact that it’s a big challenge to begin lung transplant program and is going to be a challenging to sustain in the existing conditions especially India. Narayana Hrudayalaya has taken this massive footstep to aid patients suffering from persistently progressive lung disease and have no treatment modalities.
Dr Syed Z Tousheed, Dr Basha J Khan, Dr BV Murali Mohan
Lung Transplant Physicians
Narayana Health City , Bangalore
