Sammanfattning
Lung transplantation is today a well-established treatment for patients with chronic lung diseases. Lung transplantation conferred transplant benefit, in particular for patients with pulmonary fibrosis and cystic fibrosis, but also for patients with emphysema. A major problem in clinical lung transplantation is the shortage of donor lungs. Only about 20% of donor lungs are accepted for transplantation. A method to evaluate and recondition lungs ex vivo has been tested with good clinical results on donor lungs that have been rejected for transplantation. This method may also be used in evaluation of donor lungs from DCD donors (donation after cardiac death). About half the deaths in Sweden are caused by cardiac and cerebrovascular disease. This group could be a potential source of lung donors. We hope that there will be enough donor lungs of good quality for all patients needing a lung transplant in the future.