Lung Transplantation
For patients with advanced or progressive lung disease, lung transplantation can be a life-extending option when other treatments no longer adequately control the disease. Dr Mackintosh is a Respiratory & Lung Transplant Physician with the Queensland Lung Transplant Service at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane — Queensland's statewide lung transplant program.
Assessment for transplantation
Timely referral matters: for progressive fibrotic lung disease such as IPF, progressive pulmonary fibrosis, CTD-ILD or telomere-related pulmonary fibrosis, earlier assessment — well before a patient becomes too unwell for surgery — is associated with better outcomes. Assessment is multidisciplinary, considering disease trajectory, comorbidities and disease-specific factors. Patients with a telomere biology disorder require particular consideration, including choice of immunosuppression and monitoring for bone marrow and liver involvement.
Patient information
- Lung Transplantation — fact sheet, Lung Foundation Australia.
Frequently asked questions
When should a patient be referred for lung transplant assessment?
Referral is generally considered once a progressive lung disease is failing to respond adequately to treatment, or when disease-specific risk factors suggest a higher chance of progression. For fibrotic lung disease, earlier referral for assessment — well before a patient becomes too unwell for surgery — is associated with better outcomes.
How long is the wait for a donor lung?
Waiting times vary considerably and depend on factors such as blood type, body size, lung function and how urgently a transplant is needed, as well as donor organ availability. There is no fixed timeframe, so individual expectations are best discussed with the transplant team as part of assessment and ongoing waitlist management.
What happens after lung transplantation?
Patients require lifelong immunosuppression and regular monitoring for rejection, infection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Patients with an underlying telomere biology disorder need specific adjustments to immunosuppression and additional monitoring after transplant.
For referring clinicians
Dr Mackintosh accepts referrals for lung transplant assessment from respiratory physicians and other specialists managing patients with advanced or progressive lung disease.
Related
Progressive pulmonary fibrosis and telomere biology disorders — two of the fibrotic ILDs most often requiring transplant assessment.