Outcomes and functional results of lung transplantation.

LTx is a cost-intensive procedure with limited availability due to donor shortage. According to retrospective analyses, it has offered a survival advantage for selected patient populations and an improved quality of life for the majority of patients in the first few years after transplantation, especially in younger individuals. Long-term quality of life is frequently affected by comorbidities and CLAD. The 5-year survival after LTx is close to 60% according to quality reports but can be close to 80% in experienced centres. In general, high-volume centres are associated with improved survival, and in terms of recipient characteristics, patients between the ages of 35 and 50 years have the highest long-term survival. Major late causes of death are CLAD, infections and malignancy. Approximately one third of all LTRs and 70% of LTRs aged in their thirties are working after transplantation.