Lung Transplant Treatment in India
About Lung Transplant
Key Highlights
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Offers a potential cure for end-stage lung diseases, significantly improving life expectancy.Dramatically enhances quality of life by restoring the ability to breathe normally and perform daily activities.Can be performed as a single-lung, double-lung, or heart-lung transplant, depending on the patient's condition.Performed by highly specialized teams in accredited transplant centers with advanced technology.Provides a structured, lifelong care plan to manage health post-transplant.
Who is this surgery for?
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or emphysema at a very advanced stage.
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and other severe interstitial lung diseases.
- Cystic Fibrosis with progressive respiratory failure.
- Severe Pulmonary Hypertension that is unresponsive to medical therapy.
- Bronchiectasis causing recurrent infections and respiratory failure.
- Sarcoidosis with advanced, irreversible lung damage.
How to prepare
- Undergo an extensive multi-disciplinary evaluation to assess overall health and transplant suitability.
- Complete necessary tests including pulmonary function tests, CT scans, heart evaluations, and blood work.
- Participate in nutritional counseling and physical therapy (pre-habilitation) to build strength.
- Receive vaccinations and undergo dental clearance to prevent infections.
- Meet with a financial counselor and a transplant social worker to plan for the process and recovery.
- Stop smoking and abstain from alcohol. Maintain close contact with the transplant center while on the waiting list.
Risks & possible complications
- Rejection: The immune system may attack the new lung, requiring lifelong immunosuppressant drugs.
- Infection: High risk due to immunosuppressive medications, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
- Primary Graft Dysfunction (PGD): Early lung injury and failure immediately after the transplant.
- Bleeding and Airway Complications: Such as narrowing or dehiscence at the surgical connection site.
- Side Effects of Medications: Including kidney damage, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased cancer risk.
- Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): A progressive, long-term decline in lung function.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery occurs in the ICU, followed by a stay on a specialized transplant ward for several weeks.
- Patients begin physical and respiratory therapy immediately to regain strength and lung capacity.
- Strict adherence to a complex regimen of immunosuppressive and other medications is critical.
- Regular follow-up visits, blood tests, and lung function tests are required to monitor for rejection and infection.
- Lifestyle modifications include a healthy diet, infection prevention strategies, and gradual return to activity.
- Long-term, patients require lifelong medical follow-up and must report any new symptoms like fever or shortness of breath immediately.
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Typical hospital stay:
21-30 days
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Expected recovery time:
3-6 months for initial recovery; full recovery and stabilization can take up to a year
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering lung transplant in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for lung transplant in India include Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Manipal Hospital Varthur Road, Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform lung transplant. MediFyr helps you compare pulmonologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for lung transplant compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | USD 220,234 – USD 385,410 | 21-30 days | ~ 3-6 months for initial recovery; full recovery and stabilization can take up to a year | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 1,639,124 – USD 2,868,468 | 21-30 days | ~ 3-6 months for initial recovery; full recovery and stabilization can take up to a year | Know More |
Top hospitals for Lung Transplant in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated pulmonology teams and experience managing patients undergoing lung transplant.
Hyderabad, India
20 Doctors
Priya Johnson, a 42-year-old former school...
Priya Johnson, a 42-year-old former school teacher and mother of two, had her life upended by Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Diagnosed three years ago, her once-active life of hiking and playing with her children dwindled to a struggle for each breath. Her symptoms progressed from a persistent dry cough to severe shortness of breath, leaving her dependent on continuous oxygen therapy. Her pulmonologist, Dr. Lee, explained that her lung function had deteriorated to a critical point where medication could no longer help. He recommended a bilateral lung transplant as her only chance for survival. The wait on the transplant list was agonizing, filled with hope and despair. After six months, she received the call. The surgery was long and complex, but successful. Her initial recovery in the hospital was challenging, with pain, fear of rejection, and rigorous physiotherapy. A year post-transplant, Priya is breathing freely without oxygen. She can walk her children to school and has started gardening again. Emotionally, she moved from a state of grief and fear over losing her identity as an active mother to profound gratitude. She lives with a deep sense of connection to her donor and a commitment to honoring this second chance by cherishing every moment.
Pulmonologists for Lung Transplant
Explore experienced pulmonologists who regularly perform lung transplant and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 21 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Delhi
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Siliguri, Siliguri
- 9 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Kolkata
- 12 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Siliguri, Siliguri
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Artemis Hospital Gurgaon, Gurgaon
- 15 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore, Mangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 14 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Kharadi, Pune
- 25 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore, Mangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospitals Broadway, Kolkata
- 17 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dhakuria, Kolkata
- 12 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Mukundapur, Kolkata
- 22 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Salt Lake, Kolkata
- 28 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Jaipur, Jaipur
- 36 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Millers Road, Bangalore
- 4 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Siliguri, Siliguri
- 8 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Dwarka, Delhi
- 12 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Varthur Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Pulmonologist
Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram, Bangalore