Objective:

Lung transplantation is an important therapeutic option in end stage lung diseases. Appropriate patient selection and timing are key factors for success in lung transplantation. In this study, we aimed to analyze the evaluation results of patients who were referred to our lung transplant clinic due to end-stage lung disease.

Material and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed patients who applied to our lung transplant clinic due to endstage lung disease between January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2015. Patients’ diagnoses, demographic data and application results were recorded.

Results:

Totally 275 patients applied to our center during the study period. Mean age of the patients was 43±13 years, and 168 (61%) of them were men. 174 patients were found eligible for further examination; and 55 of these (31.6%) had interstitial lung disease, 51 (29%) had cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis, 36 (20.6%) had COPD, and 18 (10%) had silicosis. After the initial evaluation or following further examinations, 123 (45%) patients were not found eligible for transplantation. 102 (37%) patients were enrolled in the transplantation list of the board. Of these eligible patients, 55 (20%) received lung transplantation. 30 (11%) patients were registered in the waiting list, and 22 patients died while in the waiting list. Of all patients, 61 (35%) were referred from university hospitals, 64 (36%) were referred from training and research hospitals, and 49 (28%) were applied on their own will to our clinic.

Conclusion:

Pulmonary transplantation is performed in one of every five patients refered for lung transplantation. Number of patients lost because of denial due to referral at the late stage, or die while in the waiting list due to lack of available organ is remarkably high. Timely referral of lung transplant candidates to transplant centers, and raising awareness about organ transplantation will contribute significantly to transplantation programs governed in Turkey.

Keywords: lung transplantation, selection criteria, end stage lung disease