Lung transplantation for emphysema

Abstract

Emphysema is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite optimal medical therapy, smoking cessation, and pulmonary rehabilitation, a large number of patients remain symptomatic with a poor quality of life. A pool of patients with end-stage disease can benefit from surgical treatments like bullectomy, lung volume reduction, or lung transplantation. Emphysema represents the most common indication leading to lung transplantation. A functional improvement and better quality of life are clear benefits deriving from lung transplantation, while a survival advantage has not yet been proven.