Lung Transplant Cost in India

Transplant Procedure

The Test Required Before The Transplant

The patient is recommended to pre-evaluate all prior medical histories, X-rays, biopsy slides, surgical reports and a list of medications. Some or more of the following diagnostic tests are usually carried out during the assessment in order to balance and to update the previous tests.

Psychological and social assessment-this test mostly includes stress control, financial difficulties, social problems and support from family and friends.

Blood test-this is important to find a suitable donor match.

Medical test- this is performed to determine the patient’s general health. These tests include x-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, pulmonary function tests, pulmonary biopsy, etc.

Procedure

The transplant process typically takes 4 to 12 hours, which depends on the seriousness of the situation. it is performed under general anesthesia. Patients are required to remove all the ornaments and change them into the hospital gown they are issued. The patient is exposed to an intravenous line and a catheter. During the process, a catheter would be inserted in the bladder to remove the urine.

• The patient must lie on the operation table,

Single transplantation: the patient must lie on the side of the transplantation.

Bilateral sequential transplantation: the patient must lie on his back with his hands above his head.

• Incision: made on the chest,

Single lung transplantation: incision on the side where the lung has to be transplanted.

Bilateral transplantation: incision on the side where the lung has to be.

• It will then replace the diseased lung with the lung of the donor. The new lung would be connected to both the nerve and the blood vessel.
• It would be done with surgical sutures or surgical staplers to close the incision. To protect the incision.
• A bandage is placed on the site of the incision.
• There will be a few tubes connected to the chest to allow liquids, blood and air to be pumped from the chest.

After the transplant

Full recovery is different from person to person after a lung transplant. People can also leave the hospital within a week, depending on the situation. To recover from a lung transplant, a minimum of 3 months is needed. Patients need to go for follow-up appointments on a weekly basis for around four weeks in the second month.

In the ICU

• The heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and oxygen level of the patient will be continuously monitored.
• The catheter will remain in the bladder until the patient can pass urine on his own.
• Blood tests will be taken several times to confirm the status of the new lungs.
• Once the breathing and bladder tube have been remove.
• One can switch to a regular liquid diet and then to semi-solid, anti-rejection.

At home

• Keep the area of the incision clean and dry and when washing.

The patient must be vigilant:

• Blood screening
• Pulmonary function test
• Chest
• X-ray
• Biopsy will be followed up for (lung)

Recovery

• After the procedure, the patient should stop pushing, dragging or lifting something heavy for the first six weeks.
• To build up their resilience, patients will be advised to conduct exercises.
• Four to six weeks after your transplant, once your chest wound has healed and you feel well enough; the patient should be able to drive again.

Immunosuppressants

Patients are recommended to take immunosuppressants for the remainder of their lives following lung transplantation. This is because there is a possibility that the body can recognize the new lung as a foreign organ and that it can be attacked by the immune system. This is understood as rejection.

Mostly immunosuppressant therapy is done in two ways:

Induction treatment: In this therapy, shortly after the transplant, the patient is given a mixture of high-dose immunosuppressants, which can weaken the immune system. In order to stop infection, this patient will be kept on antibiotics and antivirals.

Maintenance therapy: A mixture of a low dose of immunosuppressants is administered to the patient. This is given as a maintenance treatment for the.

Side effects:

• Mood changes such as depression or anxiety
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Swollen gums
• Bruising or bleeding more easily
• Convulsions
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Acne
• Extra hair growth
• Weight gain

Report immediately to the surgeon it the patient experience :-

• Fever of 104 degree or higher
• Redness or swelling of incision
• Blood or fluid leaking from incision
• Increase of pain around incision
• Short of breath or trouble in breathing

Complications

Few the known risk of the procedure are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Blockage of the blood vessel of the new lungs
• Blockage of the airways
• Severe pulmonary edema
• Rejection of new lungs

Prognosis of lung transplant

A major treatment for individuals suffering from life-threatening lung disease or injury is lung transplantation. Most individuals claim they do not have any limits on physical activity following recovery from lung transplant surgery. Up to 5 years of survival or more than half of them work at least part-time. The most significant consideration for the transplant is age at transplant time.

Waiting list

Waiting time for a transplant is different for each person. Waiting time will depend on

• The type of lung issue a patient has.
• Seriousness of lung disease.
• Probability of a transplant succeeding.

What to do while you are on the waitlist

It is recommended to stay as safe as possible while a patient is kept on the waitlist and to be prepared for the transplant center to contact them at any time.

• Day or night.
• Informing the transplant center of any changes, such as changes in health, address or contact information, is vital for the patient.
• Employ the diet plan that the doctor suggests.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking.

FAQ’s

> How will a transplant change a patient’s life?

A successful transplant will improve the symptoms of lung illness in the patient. Most patients with transplants may perform the same physical activities and enjoy the same quality of life as a normal person. It is recommended that all transplant patients receive regular opioid therapy and have direct medical monitoring for their entire lives.

> Is the surgery very complicated?

Surgical complications will differ on a case by case basis.

> What is rejection?

Rejection is when the immune system of a body considers and destroys the new lungs as extraneous. To track rejection, patients will have periodic testing and routine doctor appointments.

> Can a person’s old lung disease return back in the new lung?

In most cases, infections don’t return to the transplanted lung. There are a few diseases that are known to have reappeared.