What is the Current Status of Lung Transplantation?

Experimentation with lung transplants began in the 1940s, and the first human lung transplant, although unsuccessful, was performed around the same time as other nonkidney solid organ transplants began to develop [1]. However, the clinical success of lung transplants was delayed by 3 main issues: technical (mainly bronchial anastomotic healing); the high immunogenicity of lungs, requiring altered immunosuppression; and the risk of allograft pulmonary infections. It took the greater part of the twentieth century to resolve these issues, and now the clinical success and annual volumes of performed procedures are increasing.