Extract
Lung transplantation is a remarkable accomplishment. It may be the only life-saving treatment option for patients with terminal lung disease, but while some patients may experience a slow progression, others may develop a sudden acceleration and rapid deterioration. The ideal time for the transplantation is therefore not easy to determine. In addition, for a transplant to be possible, the death of another human being is necessary, and the timing of this is inherently unpredictable. Thus, a peculiarity of lung transplantation is that the patients in need are known before the actual treatment is available and it is necessary to create a waiting list.
Abstract
For the terminally ill, waiting for a suitable organ for a life-saving transplant may take time. In this issue of theERJ, the results of the French system for prioritising the urgently ill are reported, and this commentary compares it with other systems.http://bit.ly/2Zw0IaX
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: A.M. Holm has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: J. Gottlieb has nothing to disclose.
- ReceivedAugust 22, 2019.
- AcceptedAugust 26, 2019.
- Copyright ©ERS 2019