Disease Information
What is lung failure?
People need lung transplants when their lungs can no longer perform their vital function of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide. Lung transplant candidates have end-stage lung disease and are expected to live less than two years. They often require continuous oxygen and are extremely fatigued from the lack of oxygen. Their lungs are too diseased to be managed medically and no other kind of surgery will help them.
What are some of the symptoms of lung failure?
- Increasing shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Decrease in exercise tolerance
What causes lung failure?
Several different diseases can lead to end-stage lung failure. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be caused by asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency, a hereditary condition causing the lack of a protein needed for healthy lungs, is responsible for some cases of emphysema. Interstitial lung diseases include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, sarcoidosis, eosinophilic granuloma, Goodpasture’s syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis and Wegener’s granulomatosis. Two airway diseases that can lead to end-stage lung disease are bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis. Primary pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease causing high blood pressure of the pulmonary vessels in the lung and can be a life-threatening condition.
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