Lung Transplantation: A Second Chance at Life

“lung transplantation” is one of the most sophisticated and life-saving procedures performed by a thoracic surgeon. Bilateral lung transplant is a procedure where the patient’s lungs are replaced by new lungs. The procedure has saved the lives of many patients suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis, severe cases of COPD, Interstitial Lung Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, etc. The procedure is mostly done for patients who have failed to respond to alternative treatment options with significant damage to their respiratory systems.

Lung transplant, as a procedure, comes with its challenges and complications, including the technical procedures involved in the transplant due to the anatomy of the lungs, the use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) after the surgery, and infections and transplant rejections after the transplant. Thus, the procedure is a very specialized procedure requiring a team of doctors to perform it.

A transplant surgeon, therefore, collaborates with and coordinates a team of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, anesthetists, perfusionists, and coordinators among others to perform the lung transplant procedure successfully. Apart from these reasons, I believe that every lung transplant that I do reminds me of the miracle of life and also the tremendous power of the human body to fight incredible odds and win. Most importantly,

I believe that every lung transplant that I perform reminds me of the incredible generosity of the donor and their family that makes it all possible. After all, a lung transplant is about giving patients a second chance at life, and I am honored to be a part of the journey.

Dr. Srinath Vijayasekharan

Director & Senior Consultant

Dept of CTVS & Heart and Lung Transplant Team

Dr. Rela Institute & Medical Centre

Chrompet, Chennai – 600 044.