Patients seeking lung transplants face a number of barriers, one of which is eligibility. Consider Ron Flewett, age 53, a patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, whose case was described in an article published in Breathe. He knows he may not qualify for transplantation: He is sick, but he has to be sick enough to need the transplant—yet not so sick that he will cease to be eligible.
Physicians can play a role by encouraging their patients to abide by lung transplant eligibility guidelines to raise their chances of acquiring a new lung. Balancing the health timelines can be tricky, and socioeconomic factors can influence prognosis. Also affecting eligibility and outcomes is the issue of blood type compatibility with the donor. Read more.