A breath of fresh air for lung transplant recipients

Abstract

Lung transplantation is a definitive therapy for the treatment of many end-stage lung diseases. However, because of donor-related morbidities, only 15% of donor lungs are suitable for transplantation, which leads to an increased risk of death for prospective patients waiting for this lifesaving procedure. A technique reported by Keshavjee's group in this issue of Science Translational Medicine may help address this problem, not only by repairing donor lungs before transplant, but also by possibly preventing lung injury after transplantation.