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Fresh new pair of lungs about to get transplanted!

Lungs are unique, they are spongy, air-filled, and are the primary organs of respiration. There are many end-stage pulmonary diseases that necessitates lung transplantation, either partially or totally. Common reasons for lung transplantation are COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, and the list goes on. Transplantations aren't extremely common simply due to the small number of donor organs available, making the waiting list longer and longer. During a double-lung transplant, patient is hooked up to a heart-lung machine. Surgery starts from an incision made under the patient's armpit, around to the sternum, and then back towards the other armpit (clamshell incision). In the case of a sequential transplant the recipients lung with the poorest lung functions is collapsed, the blood vessels tied off, and cut at the corresponding bronchi. The new lung is then placed and the blood vessels reattached. To make sure the lung is satisfactory before transplanting the other, a bronchoscopy is performed.