Surgical Complications of Lung Transplantation

Lung transplantation is a life-saving intervention and the most effective therapy for select patients with irreversible lung disease. Despite the effectiveness of lung transplantation, it is a major operation with several opportunities for complications. For example, recipient and donor factors, technical issues, early postoperative events, and immunology can all contribute to potential complications. This article highlights some of the key surgery-related complications that can undermine a successful lung transplantation. The authors offer their expert opinion and experience to help practitioners avoid such complications and recognize and treat them early should they occur.