What is the average life expectancy after a lung transplant?
About 5 out of 10 people will survive for at least 5 years after having a lung transplant, with many people living for at least 10 years. There have also been reports of some people living for 20 years or more after a lung transplant.
What is the age limit for lung transplant?

Lung Transplant Program The traditional age limit for lung transplantation is 65 years. At Mayo Clinic, however, we will evaluate individuals older than 65 who do not have significant disease processes besides their lung diseases.
How long do lung transplants last in children?
Re-transplantation is an option for selected recipients with chronic allograft rejection. Overall survival following pediatric LTx is similar to that encountered in adult patients, with recent registry data indicating a median survival of 4.9 years.
What is the five-year survival rate for a lung transplant?
Because of the fragility of the lung, the survival rates for lung transplant patients are not as good as for other solid organ transplants, with a five-year survival rate of about 50-60%. The biggest limiting factor in lung transplant is having enough suitable lung donors.

Why does a lung transplant only last 5 years?
The first year after the transplant — when surgical complications, rejection and infection pose the greatest threats — is the most critical period. Although some people have lived 10 years or more after a lung transplant, only about half the people who undergo the procedure are still alive after five years.
What is the biggest problem with lung transplants?
Chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and especially bronchiolitis obliterans, remains the major medium- and long-term problem in lung transplantation with a major impact on survival.
Who is not eligible for a lung transplant?
Exclusion criteria for lung transplant You may not be a good candidate if you have a body mass index (BMI) above 35. Before you can begin the lung transplant evaluation process, you must be free of: Cancer for at least 5 years. There are exceptions for certain types of cancers.
What disqualifies you for a lung transplant?
There are several absolute contraindications that can preclude a patient from being considered for a lung transplant, such as: HIV infection. Bone marrow failure. Liver cirrhosis or an active hepatitis B infection.
What are the odds of surviving a lung transplant?
Still, more than 80% of people survive at least one year after lung transplant. After three years, between 55% and 70% of those receiving lung transplants are alive. Age at the time of transplant is the most important factor influencing lung transplant survival.
Why is life expectancy short after lung transplant?
Lung transplant patients still have a shorter life expectancy than normal, especially caused by side effects of immunosuppression and our inability to stop chronic deterioration of the graft. Malignancies are an emerging cause of death besides the still persistent chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD).
What is the longest lung transplant survivor?
Pam Everett-Smith celebrated a milestone this past November — 30 years since she received a lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the longest-surviving single-lung transplant patient known in the United States. Vanderbilt transplanted its first lung in 1990.
Can you live 20 years with lung transplant?
Lung transplants and life expectancy It is estimated that 9 to 10 people survive a lung transplant. People can live for 5, 10, or even 20 years after having one. About 87 percent of CF patients who receive lung transplants will live another year.
What is the quality of life after a lung transplant?
Conclusions: Although lung transplant patients must cope with the side effects of immunosuppression, they report a highly satisfying quality of life with regard to physical and emotional well-being and social and sexual function.
What are the odds of a successful lung transplant?
Can you have a second lung transplant?
A double lung transplant is more common, but a single lung transplant may be an option. Can you have a lung transplant more than once? Yes, this is possible, but not that common. Retransplantation accounts for about 4 percent of lung transplant procedures.
Why is life expectancy so short after lung transplant?
What is the longest living lung transplant patient?
Pam Everett-Smith celebrated a milestone this past November — 30 years since she received a lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is the longest-surviving single-lung transplant patient known in the United States.