Lung transplantation today

Lung transplantation has become an accepted surgical modality, and it is indicated in patients with a long-term benign pulmonary disease in stage when all the other therapeutic possibilities failed. Nowadays it presents a real possibility to significantly improve the quality of life. Success, (mainly in the last decade), establishing international professional centers, national coordinations, shifts transplantation towards the standard treatment procedures. The objective of the paper is to offer an overview of the international activities, trends and results in the area of lung transplantation. Authors present a review of the current situation based on their own experiences gained from the bilateral cooperation with Vienna Transplant Group. (Tab. 4, Fig. 4, Ref. 19.)