Current situation and future perspective of lung transplantation in Japan

Abstract

Lung transplantation is the last-resort treatment for patients with chronic respiratory failure who have progressed after intensive medical treatment. However, the lung is an organ that directly communicates with the outside world through the airways, and it is difficult to maintain a long-term balance between infection and rejection in lung transplantation. In Japan, living lung transplantation is an important treatment option for patients who cannot wait for a brain-dead lung transplant due to the chronic shortage of brain-dead donors. Worldwide, various efforts are being made to improve lung transplantation outcomes and provide sustainable transplantation care, as well as donor shortages. In this article, the current status and future of lung transplantation in Japan will be reviewed in light of the history and current status of lung transplantation in the world.