Can a Double Lung Transplant Save Lives?

Lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disease that causes abnormal cells to grow in lung tissue. These cells continue to multiply and develop into tumours, which can spread to other parts of the body. Lung cancer is a serious disease that, if not detected and treated promptly, can be fatal.

What’s a Transplant?

A lung organ transplant is a surgical procedure in which a damaged or non-functioning lung is replaced with a new lung from a living person or a deceased donor.

Who Can Get a Transplant?

Patients suffering from severe lung diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pulmonary hypertension may benefit from this transplant. Patients who undergo this procedure may experience an improvement in their quality of life.

Is Transplantation Safe?

Although lung transplantation benefits many patients, it is also fraught with danger and can be extremely complicated. Appropriate patients undergo this procedure, which is carefully chosen to avoid severe side effects. They will also be tested for any disease or virus that could interfere with the procedure.

How is a Lung Transplant Done?

Transplant Process

A trained surgeon performs a lung transplant in a hospital. This procedure typically takes several hours to complete. The surgeon will first make an incision in the chest and remove the damaged lung.

The patient will then be connected to an external circulatory system to ensure that oxygen is distributed throughout the body. Following that, a new and functional lung will be implanted into the body.

After Surgery

Patients will be hooked up to a breathing machine to help them breathe until their lungs fully function. The patient will be admitted to the hospital for several days or even weeks to facilitate recovery. At the same time, medical professionals will keep an eye on the patient's health to ensure no problems arise.

Further Treatment

The patient will require additional treatment after leaving the hospital to ensure the procedure is successful. This includes taking immunosuppressive drugs to reduce the risk of the body rejecting the new lung and having regular check-ups to ensure the new lungs are functioning properly in the new body.

Patients will also be reminded to take care of their health to avoid infection or other diseases.

Double Lung Transplantation in Malaysia

Transplant Status

In Malaysia, double lung transplantation is still regarded as a high-risk treatment option and is rarely used. This procedure is available at several Malaysian hospitals, including Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM), Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL), and Universiti Malaya Medical Center (PPUM). The number of patients undergoing this procedure, however, is still limited.

Double Lung Transplant

The main benefit of lung transplantation is that it can help patients with advanced lung cancer return to a normal life. Patients who have this procedure can improve their quality of life by reducing symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, and fatigue.

Double Lung Transplant Risks

Although double lung transplantation has numerous advantages, it also carries significant risks. The risks of this procedure include the possibility of rejection, infection, and organ failure. As a result, patients undergoing this procedure must follow all medical instructions and recover thoroughly.

Cost of Procedure

A double lung transplant is also very expensive. This procedure's cost includes surgery, medicine, treatment, and rehabilitation. Patients must also research the long-term costs of treatment regimens to reduce the risk of organ rejection.

Requirements for Lung Donors

A lung donor is required for a double lung transplant. Lung donors must meet all donor requirements, such as having no history of smoking or chronic lung disease. Furthermore, lung donation procedures must be carried out with care and require close collaboration between the donor and the medical team.

Transplantation necessitates careful health screening before the patient undergoes this procedure. This procedure is still considered a rare treatment procedure in Malaysia. Before proceeding, it's essential to consult your doctor regarding the array of treatment options available.

Can Transplantation Cure Lung Cancer?

• The recovery rate depends on various factors

The recovery rate after a double lung transplant is affected by several factors, including the patient's age, overall health, and post-operative complications. However, most patients can be expected to recover well from double lung transplant surgery.

• Five-year survival rate

According to studies, most patients can be expected to have a five-year survival rate after surgery. After surgery, patients may need to take anti-rejection medication and undergo physical therapy to help them recover from surgery.

•  High Complication Risk

Although the risk of complications is high in double lung transplant surgery, patients who successfully recover can live a normal life with a higher quality of life. However, it is critical to follow the doctor's orders and have regular check-ups to monitor your health after surgery.

The Recovery of Two Stage 4 Patients in Chicago

Tannaz Ameli and Albert Khoury are Stage 4 lung cancer patients who met at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. These two patients were subjected to various treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Their health, however, is deteriorating, and doctors have given them only a few months to live.

Tannaz Ameli

Tannaz Ameli, 33, is a woman with stage 4 lung cancer. She was said to have only a few months to live after undergoing several treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, she remained optimistic about her chances of recovery and worked hard to find a solution.

Finally, she met a doctor at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital who offered her the chance to undergo a double transplant. Tannaz was cured of lung cancer after several complicated and high-risk procedures and now lives a normal life.

Albert Khoury

Albert Khoury, 71, is a man who was suffering from stage 4 lung cancer. He underwent several treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but his health did not improve. He, like Tannaz Ameli, had been seeking treatment for his illness and was seeing a doctor at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

As a last resort, doctors offered him the option of a double transplant. He was cured of lung cancer after several procedures and now lives a normal life.

In Conclusion

Tannaz Ameli and Albert Khoury's story demonstrates the importance of medical, mental and family support in the face of a terminal illness. Furthermore, the courage and persistence required to find alternative treatments allow people to recover from diseases that were previously thought to be incurable. Therefore, never give up on bad luck and keep fighting.