Lung transplantation in connective tissue disease associated interstitial lung disease

The science and practice of organ transplant have evolved, and a lung transplant is now a viable option that can add years and quality to life. The connective tissue diseases (CTDs) at present form a very small percentage of the indications for which lung transplants are done today. Patients with interstitial lung disease or those with respiratory failure as a result of pulmonary vascular disease may benefit from transplants if done in the right setting. The various nonpulmonary manifestations of CTDs influence the odds of the success of a lung transplant and need to be taken into account beforehand. Evaluation of the individual candidate, ensuring disease remission at the time of the transplant, anticipating the surgical and anesthetic challenges and the postsurgical intensive care-related challenges is important. Careful patient selection and meticulous preprocedure evaluation are likely to result in good outcomes.