Heart-lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis. Overview

Lung transplantation was first attempted in 1963. It was not until 1981 that the technique of heart-lung transplantation became an accepted form of treatment for end stage cardiopulmonary disease. In 1983 the first patient with cystic fibrosis was transplanted. Since then 54 patients with cystic fibrosis have been transplanted with survival up to 3 years. The initial concern in transplanting patients with CF is infection and the multisystem nature of the disease. These patients can and are being transplanted - with results comparable to those in patients without cystic fibrosis.