Can a person survive with only one lung. How does the body adapt to having a single lung. What are the risks and limitations of living with one lung. What conditions may necessitate lung removal. How does recovery from lung removal surgery progress.

The Possibility of Living with One Lung

Many people wonder: Is it possible to survive with just one lung? The answer is yes. While having both lungs is ideal, individuals can live and function relatively normally with a single lung. The human body demonstrates remarkable adaptability in such situations.

How does the body compensate for the loss of a lung? Over time, the remaining lung expands to partially fill the space left by the removed lung. Additionally, the body learns to make up for the reduced oxygen intake, though full lung capacity will not be restored to pre-surgery levels.

Adaptations and Lifestyle Changes

What changes can a person expect when living with one lung? While most individuals won’t be continuously winded or unable to function, they will likely need to make some adjustments:

• Slowing down and adapting to reduced lung capacity
• Potential limitations in physical abilities, particularly during exercise
• Learning to manage everyday activities that may cause breathlessness

Despite these changes, many people with one lung can lead relatively normal lives. Some athletes have even been able to continue training and participating in their sports after losing the use of a lung, showcasing the body’s remarkable ability to adapt.

Risks and Complications of Lung Removal

While living with one lung is possible, the surgery to remove a lung (pneumonectomy) carries significant risks. What are the potential complications of lung removal surgery?

• Respiratory failure
• Excessive bleeding and shock
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia)
• Reduced blood flow
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung)
• Pneumonia

The anesthesia used during surgery also presents its own set of risks. Post-surgery, patients may experience temporary abdominal pain or pressure as the body adjusts to the changes in the chest cavity.

Recovery Process and Long-term Outlook

How long does it take to recover from lung removal surgery? Full recovery without complications can take weeks or even months. During this time, patients need to be aware of their limitations and may need to significantly reduce their activity levels.

What factors influence recovery and long-term outlook? Several elements come into play:

• General health before surgery
• Age
• Presence of other health conditions
• History of smoking or lung conditions

Individuals with a history of smoking or other lung issues may require additional assistance during recovery and should work closely with their healthcare providers to understand and manage their risks.

Conditions Necessitating Lung Removal

What circumstances might lead to the need for lung removal? Several conditions can necessitate a pneumonectomy:

• Traumatic injury (e.g., from serious accidents)
• Tuberculosis
• Fungal infections
• Congenital lung disease
• Complications due to smoking
• Cancer
• Bronchiectasis

While infections were once a major cause for lung removal, advancements in medical treatments have made this less common. However, in cases of severe or difficult-to-treat infections causing widespread damage, lung removal may still be the best course of action.

Daily Life and Limitations with One Lung

How does living with one lung affect daily activities? For an otherwise healthy person, having a lung removed should not cause severe limitations. However, each individual will need to learn their own boundaries and capabilities:

• Getting out of bed in the morning
• Standing up from a prone position
• Walking up stairs

These everyday activities may cause increased breathlessness, especially in the early stages of recovery. Individuals with other lung issues or breathing difficulties may find living with one lung more challenging.

Psychological Impact and Quality of Life

Beyond the physical aspects, how does living with one lung affect a person’s mental state and overall quality of life? Adjusting to life with a single lung can be psychologically challenging for some individuals. It’s important to consider the emotional and mental aspects of this significant change:

• Anxiety about physical limitations
• Potential changes in self-image
• Concerns about long-term health prospects
• Adjusting to a new “normal”

Many patients benefit from psychological support and counseling during their recovery and adjustment period. Support groups for individuals who have undergone lung removal can also provide valuable emotional support and practical advice.

Coping Strategies and Support Systems

What strategies can help individuals cope with the challenges of living with one lung? Several approaches can be beneficial:

1. Developing a strong support network of family and friends
2. Engaging in pulmonary rehabilitation programs
3. Learning stress management techniques
4. Setting realistic goals and celebrating small victories
5. Maintaining open communication with healthcare providers

These strategies can significantly improve both physical and emotional well-being, helping individuals adapt more effectively to their new circumstances.

Medical Advancements and Future Prospects

What advancements in medical science offer hope for individuals living with one lung? The field of pulmonary medicine continues to evolve, bringing new possibilities for improved quality of life:

• Advanced prosthetic lung technologies
• Stem cell therapies for lung regeneration
• Improved surgical techniques for lung preservation
• Enhanced post-operative care protocols

These developments may offer future possibilities for restoring lung function or mitigating the challenges of living with a single lung. Ongoing research in these areas provides hope for continual improvements in outcomes for patients undergoing lung removal procedures.

Emerging Treatments and Therapies

What cutting-edge treatments are being explored for lung-related conditions? Several innovative approaches are currently under investigation:

• Bioengineered lung scaffolds
• Gene therapy for lung repair
• Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems
• Artificial lung devices for temporary support

While many of these treatments are still in experimental stages, they represent promising avenues for future advancements in lung health and treatment options for those living with one lung.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Considerations

How does diet and lifestyle impact individuals living with one lung? Proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices play a crucial role in maintaining overall health and supporting lung function:

• Balanced diet rich in antioxidants
• Adequate hydration
• Regular, appropriate exercise as advised by healthcare providers
• Avoiding smoking and secondhand smoke
• Maintaining a healthy weight

These factors can significantly influence lung health and overall well-being for those living with a single lung. Working with a nutritionist or dietitian can help develop a personalized plan to support lung function and general health.

Exercise and Physical Activity

What types of physical activities are suitable for individuals with one lung? While exercise capacity may be reduced, staying active remains important:

• Low-impact aerobic exercises (e.g., walking, swimming)
• Breathing exercises and techniques
• Gentle strength training
• Yoga or tai chi for flexibility and stress reduction

It’s crucial to work closely with healthcare providers and physical therapists to develop a safe and effective exercise regimen tailored to individual capabilities and limitations.

Long-term Monitoring and Follow-up Care

What ongoing medical care is necessary for individuals living with one lung? Regular monitoring and follow-up care are essential for maintaining health and detecting any potential issues early:

• Routine pulmonary function tests
• Regular check-ups with pulmonologists
• Monitoring for signs of respiratory infections
• Vaccinations against pneumonia and influenza
• Periodic imaging studies to assess lung health

Adhering to a comprehensive follow-up care plan helps ensure the best possible long-term outcomes for individuals living with one lung.

Managing Respiratory Infections

How can individuals with one lung protect themselves from respiratory infections? Prevention and prompt treatment of respiratory infections are crucial:

• Practicing good hygiene (e.g., hand washing)
• Avoiding crowds during peak flu season
• Seeking medical attention at the first sign of respiratory symptoms
• Following prescribed antibiotic regimens when necessary

Being vigilant about respiratory health and taking proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of complications for those living with a single lung.

Can you live with one lung? Survival and outlook

It is possible to have only one lung and still function relatively normally.

Although the lungs are vital organs in the body, some conditions can cause a person to lose function in their lungs or need to have one removed.

That said, each person will be different, and there are special considerations in each case, depending on the person’s lung function and any other issues they experience.

Keep reading to learn more.

Share on PinterestA person with one lung can live a relatively normal life.

The lungs are key organs in the human body, responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and helping get rid of waste gases with every exhale.

Though having both lungs is ideal, it is possible to live and function without one lung. Having one lung will still allow a person to live a relatively normal life.

Having one lung might limit a person’s physical abilities, however, such as their ability to exercise. That said, many athletes who lose the use of one lung may still train and be able to continue their sport.

The body adapts to this change in several ways. For instance, the remaining lung will expand a bit to occupy the space left by the missing lung. Over time, the body will also learn to make up for the loss of oxygen.

However, a person will not have full lung capacity, as they did with two lungs, and they will likely need to learn to slow down and adapt to this change.

Although most people expect to be continuously winded or have an inability to function without one lung, this is not usually what happens. The person may have to learn to slow their normal functions down to a degree, but they should be able to lead a relatively normal life with one lung.

Although it is possible to live without a lung, there are a few risks involved.

A study in the Journal of Cancer notes that pneumonectomy, or the surgery to remove one of the lungs, is a high risk surgery that can lead to complications and even death.

Possible complications associated with pneumonectomy include:

• respiratory failure
• excessive bleeding and shock
• abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmia
• reduced blood flow
• blood clots in the lung, or pulmonary embolism
• pneumonia

The anesthetic from the surgery also carries its own risks.

The actual pneumectomy process involves making an incision in the side of the body to remove the affected lung.

The space left after removing the lung will fill with air. During recovery, a person may feel temporary abdominal pain or pressure as this air shifts and assimilates into the body. Over time, the other lung will expand a bit to take up some of this space. The space left will naturally fill with fluid.

After a successful surgery, a person will still take a while to recover. Full recovery without complications may take weeks or even months.

While recovering and even after, the person will need to be aware of their limitations and may have to reduce their activity levels significantly.

Some things may cause a person to feel more winded and could put them at risk of reduced blood flow or fainting. Even everyday activities — such as getting out of bed in the morning, standing up from a prone position, or walking up stairs — may cause the person to feel very winded.

Additional factors will also play into a person’s risk. For instance, their general health before the surgery, their age, and any other health conditions they have may affect their individual risks.

People with a history of smoking or other lung conditions that limit their lung function will need to be extra careful. They may need additional assistance during recovery and should work closely with a doctor to understand their risks.

A number of issues may lead to needing a pneumectomy, including:

• traumatic injury in the area, such as from a serious vehicle accident
• tuberculosis
• fungal infections
• congenital lung disease
• complications due to smoking
• cancer
• bronchiectasis, which also puts a person at risk of frequent infections

Although infections were a major cause of lung removal in the past, this is now much less common. That said, for severe infections that cause widespread damage or are very difficult to treat, lung removal may still be the best course of action.

For an otherwise healthy person, having a lung removed should not cause them to be severely limited. Each person will have to learn their own limitations in each situation, as no two cases will be exactly the same.

A person with other issues that affect the lungs or make it more difficult to breathe may find living with one lung more challenging.

Complications from lung disease or a history of smoking may make it more likely that the person experiences symptoms such as being easily winded or having difficulty catching their breath.

Even still, individual outlook can vary greatly. Although people should not expect to return to their full lung function after a lung removal, in most cases, they may still be able to operate relatively normally.

A lung removal procedure is typically only one part of a person’s treatment. Their adherence to their other treatment regimens will also affect their overall outlook.

Therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation are important factors in a person’s recovery and overall lung function. A doctor will also give the person breathing exercises to do at home.

Always work with a doctor during the recovery process to discuss possible therapies, as these therapies can be important steps to recovery.

It is possible to live with one lung. However, a person’s ability to exercise will likely decrease.

Lung removal surgery is a serious procedure that involves removing a part of or the entire lung.

People with underlying conditions affecting their lungs may need to pay more attention to their individual risks.

The surgery itself carries some risk, as does the recovery process. A person’s individual outlook will vary greatly based on a number of factors, but having one lung should not decrease a person’s life expectancy.

Anyone who may need to undergo lung removal will talk to a doctor beforehand to discuss all the possibilities of the surgery and life after the procedure.

Recovery procedures and pulmonary rehabilitation may help strengthen the remaining lung and help people gradually improve their lung function.

Can you live with one lung? Survival and outlook

It is possible to have only one lung and still function relatively normally.

Although the lungs are vital organs in the body, some conditions can cause a person to lose function in their lungs or need to have one removed.

That said, each person will be different, and there are special considerations in each case, depending on the person’s lung function and any other issues they experience.

Keep reading to learn more.

Share on PinterestA person with one lung can live a relatively normal life.

The lungs are key organs in the human body, responsible for bringing oxygen into the body and helping get rid of waste gases with every exhale.

Though having both lungs is ideal, it is possible to live and function without one lung. Having one lung will still allow a person to live a relatively normal life.

Having one lung might limit a person’s physical abilities, however, such as their ability to exercise. That said, many athletes who lose the use of one lung may still train and be able to continue their sport.

The body adapts to this change in several ways. For instance, the remaining lung will expand a bit to occupy the space left by the missing lung. Over time, the body will also learn to make up for the loss of oxygen.

However, a person will not have full lung capacity, as they did with two lungs, and they will likely need to learn to slow down and adapt to this change.

Although most people expect to be continuously winded or have an inability to function without one lung, this is not usually what happens. The person may have to learn to slow their normal functions down to a degree, but they should be able to lead a relatively normal life with one lung.

Although it is possible to live without a lung, there are a few risks involved.

A study in the Journal of Cancer notes that pneumonectomy, or the surgery to remove one of the lungs, is a high risk surgery that can lead to complications and even death.

Possible complications associated with pneumonectomy include:

• respiratory failure
• excessive bleeding and shock
• abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmia
• reduced blood flow
• blood clots in the lung, or pulmonary embolism
• pneumonia

The anesthetic from the surgery also carries its own risks.

The actual pneumectomy process involves making an incision in the side of the body to remove the affected lung.

The space left after removing the lung will fill with air. During recovery, a person may feel temporary abdominal pain or pressure as this air shifts and assimilates into the body. Over time, the other lung will expand a bit to take up some of this space. The space left will naturally fill with fluid.

After a successful surgery, a person will still take a while to recover. Full recovery without complications may take weeks or even months.

While recovering and even after, the person will need to be aware of their limitations and may have to reduce their activity levels significantly.

Some things may cause a person to feel more winded and could put them at risk of reduced blood flow or fainting. Even everyday activities — such as getting out of bed in the morning, standing up from a prone position, or walking up stairs — may cause the person to feel very winded.

Additional factors will also play into a person’s risk. For instance, their general health before the surgery, their age, and any other health conditions they have may affect their individual risks.

People with a history of smoking or other lung conditions that limit their lung function will need to be extra careful. They may need additional assistance during recovery and should work closely with a doctor to understand their risks.

A number of issues may lead to needing a pneumectomy, including:

• traumatic injury in the area, such as from a serious vehicle accident
• tuberculosis
• fungal infections
• congenital lung disease
• complications due to smoking
• cancer
• bronchiectasis, which also puts a person at risk of frequent infections

Although infections were a major cause of lung removal in the past, this is now much less common. That said, for severe infections that cause widespread damage or are very difficult to treat, lung removal may still be the best course of action.

For an otherwise healthy person, having a lung removed should not cause them to be severely limited. Each person will have to learn their own limitations in each situation, as no two cases will be exactly the same.

A person with other issues that affect the lungs or make it more difficult to breathe may find living with one lung more challenging.

Complications from lung disease or a history of smoking may make it more likely that the person experiences symptoms such as being easily winded or having difficulty catching their breath.

Even still, individual outlook can vary greatly. Although people should not expect to return to their full lung function after a lung removal, in most cases, they may still be able to operate relatively normally.

A lung removal procedure is typically only one part of a person’s treatment. Their adherence to their other treatment regimens will also affect their overall outlook.

Therapies such as pulmonary rehabilitation are important factors in a person’s recovery and overall lung function. A doctor will also give the person breathing exercises to do at home.

Always work with a doctor during the recovery process to discuss possible therapies, as these therapies can be important steps to recovery.

It is possible to live with one lung. However, a person’s ability to exercise will likely decrease.

Lung removal surgery is a serious procedure that involves removing a part of or the entire lung.

People with underlying conditions affecting their lungs may need to pay more attention to their individual risks.

The surgery itself carries some risk, as does the recovery process. A person’s individual outlook will vary greatly based on a number of factors, but having one lung should not decrease a person’s life expectancy.

Anyone who may need to undergo lung removal will talk to a doctor beforehand to discuss all the possibilities of the surgery and life after the procedure.

Recovery procedures and pulmonary rehabilitation may help strengthen the remaining lung and help people gradually improve their lung function.

Is it possible to live a full life without one lung?с

Contents Hide

1. In what cases should a patient have a lung removed?
2. How fulfilling is life without one lung?
3. Rules for rehabilitation after pneumonectomy

The lungs are a vital paired organ located in the chest cavity and providing respiratory function. But sometimes, for example, when a cancerous tumor forms, one lung has to be removed in order to save a person’s life. Patients who have had their right or left lung removed can live full lives without experiencing acute respiratory distress. After the operation, the remaining lung takes over the functions of the remote one, while the level of tidal volume is reduced by only 20-30%.

Is it possible to live with one lung?

When does a patient need to have a lung removed?

An operation that removes one lung is called a pneumonectomy or pulmonectomy. Removal of the lung is a complex surgical intervention, which is performed according to the following indications:

• malignant neoplasm in the lung with multiple metastases;
• numerous cysts;
• widespread tuberculosis;
• extensive bronchiectasis;
• chronic purulent processes affecting the right or left lung;
• profuse pulmonary haemorrhages;
• chest trauma with lung rupture;
• various malformations;
• pathological processes that exclude the possibility of economical resection.

How fulfilling is life without one lung?

People who have undergone radical pneumonectomy are wondering if it will be possible to live a full life, having lost an important, irreplaceable organ? Doctors unanimously declare that life goes on after a successful operation. It is clear that a person will have to adapt to some changes and restrictions, but in general, if medical recommendations are followed and special exercises are performed regularly, respiratory function is fully restored.

Full life without one lung: is it possible?

The remaining healthy lung grows in size, taking up the vacant space in the chest cavity. It takes over part of the function of the lost organ, providing full saturation of tissues with oxygen.

Rehabilitation after pneumonectomy is long, sometimes taking many weeks and months. At first, the patient is significantly limited in his actions, but gradually the functionality expands, the person returns to active life. Prognosis for a full recovery will depend on various factors:

• age;
• general state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases;
• bad habits – smoking, drinking alcohol, etc.

Rules for rehabilitation after pneumonectomy

In order for the patient to return to his former life after radical surgery, it is important to responsibly approach the rehabilitation process. After the operation, the patient is trying to activate as soon as possible. Special physical exercises come to the rescue, which are prescribed from the first days of recovery. Individually composed workouts help a healthy lung to adapt to a new state as quickly as possible and begin to fully perform its functions, taking part of the load of the remote organ.

Pneumoectomy photo

In the early stages of rehabilitation, daily breathing exercises are indicated, as well as exercises to warm up the muscles. This favorably affects the functioning of the remaining lung and the cardiovascular system. After discharge, the patient recovers at home on his own. Rehabilitation at home is carried out with strict observance of the following rules:

• regularly perform the exercises selected by the doctor, gradually increasing the load;
• try to move more, walk in the fresh air;
• stop smoking completely;
• fix the food.

Medication is prescribed during the rehabilitation period. Drug groups used:

• Antibiotics:
  • Cefotaxime;
  • Cefazolin;
  • Ceftriaxone et al.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
  • Ibuprofen;
  • Diclofenac;
  • Nimesil and others
• Antitussives:
  • Sinekod;
  • Codeine et al.
• Hemostatic agents:
  • Aminocaproic acid;
  • Vikasol;
  • Dicynon et al.

Restrictions after lung removal

Patients who have undergone radical lung resection may experience difficulty during strenuous exercise, such as:

• running;
• brisk walking;
• lifting weights;
• games requiring constant movement;
• dancing;
• swimming.

As a rule, there are no problems with breathing in ordinary life. To keep the body in good physical shape, as well as training the remaining lung, doctors advise moderate exercise:

• breathing exercises;
• daily outdoor walks;
• cycling;
• water aerobics.

For the prevention of respiratory failure, it is necessary to permanently get rid of smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits. In the absence of postoperative complications, the patient becomes able-bodied after 8-12 months.

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There was no other chance to survive. As a difficult 58-year-old patient, lungs were transplanted for the first time in Belarus

On the night of February 22-23, the first lung transplant operation was performed in Belarus. A 58-year-old resident of Osipovichi, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, received a new organ. This was her only chance to survive, so the doctors performed the operation, despite the advice of foreign colleagues not to start a lung transplant program with such difficult patients. How the operation went, how many people were involved in rescuing the woman and how she feels now, was told at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation.

Lyudmila Kholodok, the first Belarusian woman with transplanted lungs

A woman supported her life with oxygen inhalations

Lyudmila Grigoryevna Kholodok 58 years old, she is a disabled person from the Osipovichi district center (Mogilev region). For many years, the woman suffered from an incurable disease – idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The word “idiopathic” means “having an unknown cause”. In patients, the walls of the pulmonary alveoli become denser, through which oxygen enters the blood.

For several years Lyudmila Grigorievna supported her life with oxygen inhalations. At first, she periodically went to the hospital, but over time, the disease forced her to practically settle in a hospital, where a constant supply of a mixture of air and oxygen was provided.

Doctors from the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation observed the patient for about a year. As long as the transplant could be avoided, she was maintained with conservative (non-surgical) treatment. But the disease progressed, and lung transplantation became the only way to save the life of Lyudmila Grigorievna.

The Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation was opened in 2010 on the basis of the 9th city clinical hospital in Minsk. For 5 years, 292 liver transplants, 296 liver resections, more than 70 pancreatic resections, 32 laparoscopic splenectomy and other complex operations have been performed here.

The operation lasted more than 12 hours

The first lung transplant in Belarus took place on the night of February 22-23. The operation was performed by the head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation Sergey Eskov.

Sergey Yeskov

– The patient spent more than 12 hours on the operating table. This is the first lung transplant in Belarus, so it was mentally difficult. From a technical point of view, we regularly perform similar operations when we have to stitch the bronchi and arteries,” he says.

The task was further complicated by the fact that the structures of the patient’s organ were much smaller in diameter than the structures of the donor lungs. Already 4 hours after the operation, Lyudmila Grigorievna opened her eyes.

“The patient went through difficult trials and demonstrated great courage,” Alexander Dzyadzko, head of the department of anesthesiology and resuscitation of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation, pays tribute to the endurance of the patient.

– The postoperative period was not easy, but now the woman’s condition is stable.

They took a patient for surgery against the advice of foreign colleagues

Colleagues from Austria, Germany and Israel, from whom Belarusian doctors adopted experience, advised not to start a lung transplant program with such difficult patients as Lyudmila Grigoryevna. The risk of complications is too great. But the woman had no other chance to survive, so when a suitable donor organ appeared for her, the operation was nevertheless performed.

Two dozen doctors and even more nurses took part in the rescue of the patient, Alexander Dzyadzko notes. 43 days have passed since the operation, which the woman spent under the round-the-clock supervision of the medical staff.

Part of the medical team that saved the patient

– In lung transplantation, it is important not only to perform the operation itself, but also to ensure an effective, safe postoperative period. Along the way, patients face a lot of problems. The lungs are the only transplanted organ that comes into contact with the external environment with all its infections,” explains Oleksandr Dzyadzko.

– In addition to the main disease, the patient has many comorbidities, such as diabetes. After the operation, we had to fight them, – adds Sergey Yeskov.

Doctors do not yet predict how long Lyudmila Grigorievna will remain under medical supervision: recovery after the operation took longer than expected. But doctors are optimistic.

– We hope that the patient will be able to return to normal life, at least to the period when she lived without oxygen. We cannot yet say how quickly it will recover further, but in general the dynamics are positive, – Alexander Dzyadzko clarifies.

Alexander Dzyadzko

The first successful single lung transplant in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis took place in 1981 in Toronto, Canada. Five years later, the first successful transplantation of both lungs was performed there. From 1988 to 2004, the number of transplants in the world increased from 83 to 2000 per year. According to the International Heart and Lung Transplant Society, about 3,500 lung transplants are now performed annually. The growth of their number is limited, first of all, by the lack of donor organs.

“Cranky” organ

In world practice, up to 85% of patients with transplanted lungs live more than 1 year, 55-60% – more than 5 years. Sergey Yeskov says that in Austria he met people who live with donor lungs for 15 or even 20 years and remain physically and socially active.

And here are other statistics, also world. Only 20% of effective liver and kidney donors can be effective lung donors. In addition, the lung is a sensitive organ that is easily susceptible to infection. The liver and kidneys are recognized as suitable for transplantation in 88% of cases, the heart – in 33%, lungs – only in 18-20%. Therefore, for doctors around the world, choosing a donor lung for a recipient is already a success.

– We thought that in Belarus there are problems with the alcoholization of the population, cardiovascular diseases, so it will be very difficult to get a quality liver or a quality heart, – says Oleg Rummo, head of the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation. – In fact, there are no problems with this in our country, but there are difficulties in obtaining high-quality lungs.

Oleg Rummo

Another nuance is that after the removal of an organ from a donor, the lungs must be used no later than 8 hours later. In the case of Lyudmila Grigorievna, the procedure took 7 hours. The organ was brought from Brest to Minsk in 2 hours, and 5 hours after the start of the operation, the second implanted lung was launched.

It remains to master the “heart-lung” complex

The stage of active preparation for lung transplantation began more than two years ago. In November 2012, the department of thoracic surgery and lung transplantation was opened at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation. Doctors were trained abroad, adopted the experience of their colleagues from Austria, Germany, Israel. Patients requiring surgery were placed on a waiting list. Careful two-year preparation was crowned by the first transplantation of both lungs. A month and a half later, Oleg Rummo confidently calls this start successful.

– Several dozen patients in Belarus are now waiting for surgery. There are about 10 people on the waiting list. It must be clearly understood that if there are 1, 2 or 5 operations performed in the country, then it makes no sense to include 100 or 200 people on the waiting list, because we will not physically have time to help these patients,” he explains.

Oleg Rummo promises that lung transplantation will be carried out in Belarus on a regular basis, but he warns that 20 operations should not be expected this year.

– In a few years we will reach the percentage of these operations, which corresponds to the percentage of leading European and American centers. This is about 4-5 operations per million population. We are still far from this number. But if someone told me 7 years ago that we would perform 60-70 liver transplants annually, I would probably just smile.

Having performed lung transplantation, Belarusian specialists have mastered all transplantations of isolated organs. Of the combined transplants, they have not yet performed only the “heart-lung” complex.

– Individual components have already been mastered, so I have no doubt that if we manage to find a good donor organ complex, then this operation will be performed, – says Oleg Rummo.

Foreigners applied for lung transplantation even before the operation

Even before Belarusian surgeons performed lung transplantation, foreigners began to be interested in this operation. They are still calling the RSPC, but domestic experts are asking to wait until the technology is finally debugged.

– A huge number of foreigners want to come for this operation, because Belarus is the second country in the CIS after Russia, which has mastered lung transplantation. But you can’t sell raw technology, you can’t declare what you don’t have much experience in, otherwise you can ruin the business, explains Oleg Rummo. – Until we gain experience, we will not perform these operations to foreigners, if only because they will pay huge sums of money for them. In addition, there are 20 Belarusians who need to perform this operation.

The number of foreigners who apply to the RSPC for organ transplants is 3-5 times higher than the center’s capacity. At the same time, the leader draws attention to the fact that organ transplantation to foreigners will never be performed to the detriment of Belarusians.

– We will not be able to satisfy everyone, but within the 10% quota that is reserved for foreign citizens, these operations are performed regularly by residents of different countries, from Russia and Ukraine to Israel and Japan. The fame gained by the Republican Scientific and Practical Center and the quality of transplant operations allowed us to keep a high price (for example, a liver transplant operation with postoperative care costs 125 thousand dollars. – TUT.BY) and at the same time have a huge number of applicants.

In 2014, more than 400 organ transplants were performed in Belarusian medical institutions – kidney, liver, heart, pancreas.

In Minsk, kidneys, liver and pancreas are transplanted at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Organ and Tissue Transplantation. The Republican Research and Practical Center “Cardiology” performs a heart transplant. In the regions, kidney, liver and heart transplantation operations have been mastered in the Brest Regional Hospital. Kidney transplants are performed in the regional hospitals of Gomel and Grodno.

In terms of the number of transplants per 1 million population, Belarus ranks first in the CIS. In 2014, transplant activity in our country amounted to 43.