Lung Transplant in India

A lung transplant surgery is undertaken to remove diseased lung in an individual and replace the same with a healthy lung, sourced from a deceased donor. A last resort, the surgery is typically undertaken for patients with end-stage lung failure to improve longevity and quality of the life.

A transplant may remove one or both lungs, and in some cases the surgery is combined with a heart transplant as well, in which case it is termed the heart-lung transplant. Lung transplant is carried out to treat certain life-threatening diseases, such as COPD, Pulmonary Hypertension, Cystic fibrosis, Scaring and inflammation of the bronchioles.

Types of Lung Transplant in India

Single lung transplant in India: This is the transplant of one lung.

Double lung transplant in India: This is the transplant of both lungs.

Bilateral sequential transplant in India: This is the transplant of both lungs, done one at a time. It’s also called bilateral single.

Heart-Lung transplant in India: This is the transplant of both, the lungs and the heart taken from a single donor.

Most lungs that are transplanted come from deceased organ donors. This type of transplant is called a cadaveric transplant. Healthy, non-smoking adults who are a good match may be able to donate part of one of their lungs. The part of the lung is called a lobe. This type of transplant is called a living transplant. People who donate a lung lobe can live healthy lives with the remaining lungs.

Lung Transplant procedure in India

A lung transplant involves removal of diseased lung and replacing it with a healthy lung, sourced from deceased donor. Lung transplant is considered as the last resort to survive in the patient with end-stage lung failure and highly diminished survival rates. The transplantation process involves one or two lungs and sometimes combined with the heart transplantation. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia.

During the procedure, the surgeon makes an incision in the center of the chest and opens the rib cage by performing sternotomy. A heart-lung bypass machine is connected which makes the blood circulate around your body. Your heart is then removed leaving behind a section of right and left atria. Then, the new heart is connected to the aorta and other main arteries. Once the new heart is able to pump the blood and is stable, then the heart-lung machine is removed. Finally, the incision is closed with suture and then covered with sterile dressing

What are the diseases in which lung transplantation is indicated in India?

• Cystic fibrosis (CF) – An inherited disease characterized by an abnormality in the glands that produce sweat and mucus. It is chronic, progressive, and is usually fatal.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – A group of lung diseases that can interfere with normal breathing due to lung damage often induced by smoking/ fossil fuel fume exposure.
• Pulmonary artery hypertension – Increased pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
• Heart disease affecting the lungs – These may require a heart-lung transplant.
• Interstitial Pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) – Scarring of the lungs of known or unknown cause.
• Other diseases causing severe lung damage – sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, or LAM
• In adults, it is mostly for COPD and IPF and in children it is for cystic fibrosis.

What are the types of donors for Lung Transplant in India?

• Deceased donor
  • Donor after Brain stem death
  • Donor after circulatory death (non-heart-beating donor)
• Very rarely, lobe transplant from living donor

What are the outcomes for lung transplantation in India?

• It was only in the mid-1980s that lung transplantation was accepted as a treatment for ESLD. The risks and benefits of this procedure must be carefully weighed for each patient. This is because, even with considerable advancement, only half of the recipients survive more than 5 years after receiving a lung transplant.
• The primary goal of lung transplantation is to prolong life rather than to permanently cure ESLD.
• Most lung transplant recipients experience significant improvements in lung function, exercise tolerance and quality of life (QoL).

What is the average cost of a lung transplant in India?

Average cost of Lung Transplant in India is USD 55,000 to USD 65,000. Price varies based on patient’s age, current health condition, availability of donor lungs etc.

Which is Best Hospital for Lung Transplant in India?

There only few Hospitals in India who can do Lung Transplant.

Global Hospital Chennai Lung Transplant Department

Global Hospital Bangalore Lung Transplant Department

Fortis Hospital Malar Lung Transplant Department

Manipal Hospital Bangalore Lung Transplant Department

Yashoda Hospital Hyderabad Lung Transplant Department

Max Super Specialty Hospital Lung Transplant Department

BLK Super Specialty Hospital Lung Transplant Department

Columbia Asia Hospital Lung Transplant Department

You can contact us for more information on cost, availability, etc.

How much does it cost for Lung Transplant in India?

Average cost of Lung Transplant in India is USD 55,000 to USD 65,000. Price varies based on patient’s age, current health condition, availability of donor lungs etc.

Best Surgeon for Lung Transplant in India?

There are only few expert Lung Transplant surgeons in India,

• Dr. Sreenivasan V: HOD & Senior Consultant (Critical Care)
• Dr. Vijil Rahulan K: HOD & Senior Consultant (Pulmonology)
• Dr. Apar Jindal: Consultant (Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine)
• Dr. K Vijayasaratha: Senior Consultant (Respiratory Medicine and Interventional Pulmonology)
• Dr. Prasanna Kumar Thomas: Consultant (Pulmonology)
• Dr. K. Rajkumar: Consultant (Pulmonology)
• Dr. Avdhesh Bansal, Pulmonology Consultant
• Dr. Sanjay Sobti, Pulmonology Consultant
• Dr. Deepak Rosha, Pulmonologist
• Dr. Nikhil Modi, Pulmonologist
• Dr. M. S Kanwar, Pulmonology Consultant
• Dr. Sudha Kansal, Pulmonology Consultant
• Dr. Rajesh Chawla, Pulmonologist
• Dr. Sandeep Nayar – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Sunny Kalra – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Pratibha Gogia – Pulmonologist
• Dr. (Col) R.S. Chaterji – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Vivek Nangia – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Anil Kumar Singh – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Sharad Joshi – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Rajesh Kumar Gupta – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Praveen Kumar Pandey – Pulmonologist
• Dr. Sandeepa S: Consultant (Pulmonology)
• Dr. Vishwanath V Bellad: Consultant (Pulmonology)
• Dr. Mohammed Attaullah Khan S: Consultant Pulmonologist
• Dr. Hirennappa B Udnur: Consultant Pulmonologist

Why Lung Transplant in India?

So, let us tell you the history behind the first lung transplant that was performed in India. Dr. K M Cherian conducted the first lung transplant in India way back in the year 1999 at Madras Medical Mission. He has performed eight transplants including three heart-and-lung transplants. According to him, a successful lung transplant surgery lasts for an average of five to seven years. The doctor feels that the main hurdles a patient has to face are getting a donor is difficult, then the donor has to match the requirements like matching blood group, size of a lung, be a non-smoker and should not have been on the ventilator for more than 24 hours.

This information will help a searcher, a patient or patient’s family member to understand the main factors to look for a hospital in India. The factors are as follows :

• Doctors
• Reputation
• Infrastructure
• Cost
• Location

1. India Lung Transplant Doctors 

The first thing you should know and understand that Indian specialists are outstanding and very much appreciated in the medical world. The Indian doctors and specialists are exceptionally qualified and experienced. Many foreign nationals and doctors in USA also justify this fact.

2. India Lung Transplant Reputation 

Now, coming to the reputation part, medical tourism companies easily attract foreign patients to come to India for their treatment. A lot of foreign patients prefer getting their Lung transplant in India as they are assured of proper treatment with advanced technology and innovative way of undergoing surgeries. And not to forget, the high success rate for this procedure.

3. India Lung Transplant Infrastructure

Nowadays the lung transplant hospitals in India have advanced technology and high-end facilities which provide solutions for the best treatment to the patients who are suffering from a lot of pain related to lung diseases.

4. India Lung Transplant Cost 

For anyone who is planning to seek any kind of treatment the most important factor you will be considering is ‘the cost’. Cost of the treatment is a very major issue when you choose the place for you or your family member’s treatment. The hospitals in India are known for their affordability. The lung transplant cost in India is approximately USD 55,000 to USD 65,000. Price varies based on patient’s age, current health condition, availability of donor lungs etc

5. India Lung Transplant Location

There are several multi-specialty hospitals that perform lung transplant in India.A total of 85 lung transplantations have been performed in South India over a couple of years. Moreover, the lung transplant hospitals in India are located in most of the metro cities like- Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore.

Contact us for more information:

Call or WhatsApp: +91 8095504033

You might also have following questions

Is lung transplant possible in India?

heart and lung transplant cost in India?

Best lung transplant surgeon in India,

cost of lung transplant in India?

success rate of lung transplant in India?

double lung transplant cost in India?

lung transplant in India success rate?

lung transplant in India Chennai?

lung transplant in India global hospital Chennai?

lung transplant in India Mumbai?

When is Lung Transplant Done?

Unhealthy or damaged lungs can make it difficult for your body to get the oxygen it needs to survive. A variety of diseases and conditions can damage your lungs and hinder their ability to function effectively, including:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including emphysema
• Scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Sarcoidosis with advanced fibrosis
• Pulmonary hypertension

Lung damage can often be treated with medication or with special breathing devices. But when these measures no longer help or your lung function becomes life-threatening, your doctor might suggest a lung transplant.

What happens During Lung Transplant?

The procedure will be done with general anesthesia, so you will be unaware and won’t feel any pain. Doctors will insert a tube through your mouth and into your windpipe to help you breathe. You will also have a tube in your nose down to your stomach to drain your stomach contents. A catheter will keep your bladder empty.

Your surgeon will make a cut in your chest to remove your diseased lung. The main airway to that lung and the blood vessels between that lung and your heart will then be connected to the donor lung. For some lung transplants, you may be connected to a heart-lung machine, which circulates your blood during the operation.

A single-lung transplant takes about four to eight hours to complete, while a double-lung transplant usually takes six to 12 hours.

What happens after your Lung Transplant?

Immediately after the surgery, you’ll spend several days in the hospital’s intensive care unit. A mechanical ventilator will help you breathe for a few days, and tubes in your chest will drain fluids from around your lungs and heart.

A tube in a vein will deliver strong medications to control pain and to prevent rejection of your new lung. As your condition improves, you’ll no longer need the mechanical ventilator and you’ll be moved out of the intensive care unit. Recovery often involves a one- to three-week hospital stay.

After you’re discharged from the hospital, you’ll require about three months of frequent monitoring by the lung transplant team to prevent, detect and treat complications and to assess your lung function. During this time, you’ll need to stay close to the transplant center. Your follow-up visits may involve laboratory tests, chest X-rays, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and checkups with a specialist.

Living a healthy lifestyle is key to sustaining your new lung. Smoking isn’t allowed, and the use of alcohol is strictly limited. Following a nutritious diet also can help you stay healthy.

Exercise is an extremely important part of rehabilitation after your lung transplant and will begin within days of your surgery. Your health care team will work with you to design an exercise program that’s right for you.

How to Prepare for Lung Transplant?

The number of people needing lung transplants far exceeds the number of donated lungs available. When a donor organ becomes available, the donor-recipient matching system administered by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) finds an appropriate match based on specific criteria, including:

• Blood type
• Size of organ compared with chest cavity
• Geographic distance between donor organ and transplant recipient
• Severity of the recipient’s lung disease
• Recipient’s overall health
• Likelihood that the transplant will be successful

Contact us for more information:

Call or WhatsApp: +91 8095504033