Transplant Recipient Death in UK

[Guest guest]

A FaceBook friend of mine who grew up across the street from me posted the

following link on my " Wall " today. Thought it would be of interest to the folks

on this support group. It reports on the death of a UK war veteran who had a

double lung transplant and then died after developing lung cancer

post-transplant. After investigating, they found that he had received the lungs

of a heavy smoker - someone who had smoked 50+ cigarettes a day!!!

For what it's worth, the use of donor lungs from smokers was discussed in the

monthly support group at Brigham and Women's Lung Transplant Program. The

transplant surgeon said that lungs from smokers may be used, but only if there

is NO significant damage to the lungs...and certainly NOT if there is any

evidence at all of cancer. As I remember the conversation, it was also said that

the recipient was told and had the option to not accept the lung/lungs.

As someone who is now less than 48 hours from his appointment at Brigham &

Women's, where he may be activated on the list...it certainly caught my

attention!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/12/soldier.lung.cancer.transplant/index.html

Steve aka...Knip UIP/IPF 9/07 VATS 12/07

57 Plymouth, NH, USA