Heart lung grafting, also known as heart-lung transplantation, is a surgical procedure in which both the heart and the lungs of a patient are replaced simultaneously with those from a donor. It is a complex and invasive procedure primarily conducted on patients suffering from end-stage heart and lung disease, in which the organs can no longer function effectively to sustain life.
During heart-lung grafting, the recipient's native heart and lungs are removed and replaced with the donor's heart and lungs. The procedure involves multiple intricate steps, including the detachment of major blood vessels, connecting the donor organs to the recipient's circulatory system, and carefully aligning and suturing the various arteries, veins, and bronchi. The recipient is put on cardiopulmonary bypass, a machine that temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and the lungs, during the procedure to ensure continuous oxygenation and blood circulation.
This transplantation is considered a last resort treatment option for patients who have exhausted all available medical therapies and whose quality of life is severely impaired. Typically, candidates for heart-lung grafting suffer from conditions such as severe congenital heart defects, irreparable lung damage due to diseases like cystic fibrosis or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or complex cardiac and respiratory failure.
While heart-lung grafting can improve the prognosis and quality of life for patients with end-stage cardiac and pulmonary diseases, it is a highly intricate and risky procedure with potential complications, including organ rejection, infections, bleeding, and the side effects of immunosuppressive medications. Close monitoring and long-term follow-up care are necessary for patients who undergo heart-lung grafting to maximize the chances of a successful outcome.
