Current Perspectives on Lung Allocation Schemes in the USA and Europe

AbstractOver the past three decades, lung transplantation has evolved as a recognized treatment for patients with advanced lung disease. However, lung transplantation has remained limited by the shortage of acceptable donor lung organs. Previously, allocation of donor lungs in the USA was based primarily upon a recipient ’s wait list time. However, in 2005, under the mandate of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the lung allocation system was changed in order to incorporate medical urgency and to ensure equitable and efficient allocation for all transplant candidates. Clinical criteria that predicted wait list mortality and 1-year post-transplant survival were incorporated into the lung allocation score (LAS). The LAS has been associated with an increased number of wait list candidates, decreased wait list time, decreased wait list mortality, and a change in the clinical characteristics of the l ung transplant candidates. Given the success of the LAS in the USA, several European transplant organizations are considering adopting a similar lung allocation schema. Continued refinement of the donor lung allocation schema in the USA and Europe will optimize lung transplant outcomes.
Source: Current Transplantation Reports - Category: Transplant Surgery Source Type: research