The Largest Lung Transplant Program in the Region

The Transplant Center—Living Donor, Lung

Because there are very few living lobar lung donation programs, The Transplant Center at University of Minnesota Medical Center works with patients from around the country.

Patients with severe lung disease who are active candidates for transplant can be considered for a living donor lobar lung transplant if they are not likely to survive the years of waiting for deceased-donor lungs. Because each person requires two lungs, a lung recipient must have two donors identified for lobar lung donation. Donors have a segment of one lung removed for transplant into the recipient.

Lung capacity in donors decreases permanently an average of 15 percent. In most cases this does not result in any physical limitations and donors return to their normal activities.

The Transplant Center considers relatives, friends and spouses of the potential recipient. The living lung donor must have a compatible blood type and must be at least the same height or taller than the recipient. The transplant team will consider healthy donors between the ages of 18 and 55 years.