On BBC News on 22 August 2025, Emma Stanley tells the incredible story of Catherine Makin, a double lung transplant patient. Catherine Makin, 42, a National Health Service (NHS) clerical worker from Great Harwood, Lancashire, has won 10 medals in swimming and table tennis at the British Transplant Games after receiving a double lung transplant […]
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has achieved a historic milestone by performing the Gulf region’s first robotic lung transplants, making it one of only five centers worldwide to successfully complete this advanced procedure. Two patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and secondary pulmonary hypertension have undergone the surgery. These surgeries were quite complex due to pulmonary hypertension,
First robotic lung transplant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Gulf Today, July 8, 2025 Read Post »
The key findings from the Pulmonary Hypertension Global Patient Survey (PHGPS) adult cohort of 3,329 patients have been published in the ERJ Open Research 2025, highlighting the achievements, shortcomings & regional disparities of clinical care & research globally. The Pulmonary Hypertension Global Patient Survey represents the most extensive survey of its type in the pulmonary
A large US registry study of 1,671 patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) over 4607 person-years of follow up found that lung transplant referrals are occurring far too infrequently and too late in the disease course. Despite professional society recommendations for early referral, only 12% of patients were referred for transplantation over the study period.
In their recent open-access article for the Zentralblatt für Chirurgie, Drs.: Szofia Kovacs, Alberto Benazzo, and Peter Jaksch review the latest International Society for Lung and Heart Transplantion (ISHLT) guidelines on lung transplantation, highlighting a major shift toward personalized, inclusive care. Beyond the underlying lung disease, transplant decisions now consider age, frailty, comorbidities, and psychosocial
Early referral for lung transplantation can be life-saving for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In this important review, van der Ploeg et al. explore when and how patients across major respiratory diseases especially Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension should be referred for transplant evaluation. As medical therapies continue to improve, the urgency and timing of referral
Alena’s journey transcends ordinary resilience. After battling pulmonary hypertension for a decade, surviving two double lung transplants, and undergoing over 200 photopheresis sessions, she now embraces life with just 34% lung function—yet lives it fully. Her story bridges cultures, identities, and the profound gift of donated organs. As she marks 11 years since her first
Globally, over 4,500 lung transplants are performed annually. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension represents a unique transplantation indication because: Given these specific challenges, the authors developed guidelines for managing Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension patients who are lung transplant candidates through a modified Delphi study. The expert panel reached unanimous consensus on several key aspects of lung transplantation for
A systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether tacrolimus or cyclosporine is more effective at reducing chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) in lung transplant patients was publshed on the British Medical Journal in April 2025. The researchers analyzed 4 randomized trials involving 662 patients with a mean age of 45-55 years, mostly with Chronic Obstructive
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents a significant economic burden on society, as revealed by a comprehensive Swedish study published on Pulmonary Circulation on April 17, 2025, examining the societal costs associated with this condition. The research tracked patients across various pulmonary arterial hypertension subgroups—idiopathic/hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue disease,
Communication plays a crucial role in organ donation processes. According to the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), terminology choices can significantly impact public perception, potentially creating unnecessary fear that reduces donation rates. AOPO advocates for language that honors donors’ contributions and builds public confidence in the donation system. Recommended Terminology Shifts Surgical Procedure Terminology
Gabi Oniscu, Professor of Transplantation Surgery at the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and President of the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT), is schedule to give a TedX talk about ”The power of three: death, life and the gift in between”. He has written on his LinkedIn page that he will recount three stories “that capture
Three heart failure patients with pulmonary hypertension (WHO Group II) became eligible for heart transplants after receiving the Aeson Total Artificial Heart, which effectively took place after 243, 155 and 109 days respectively. This innovative device, implanted with the help of the advanced Carmat system, replaces the heart’s ventricles and maintains continuous blood circulation, stabilizing
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pioneering clinical trials by two biotech firms to evaluate the transplantation of kidneys from genetically engineered pigs into human patients with renal failure. This breakthrough authorization could mark a significant step toward addressing the chronic shortage of human organs for transplant. Until now, such transplants were
The Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension (AfPH) recently concluded its 14th webinar, marking the culmination of an educational initiative that began in June 2023. These virtual gatherings brought together internationally renowned experts in pulmonary hypertension, who shared their expertise on a comprehensive range of topics crucial to advancing patient care and quality of life. The diverse
Transplant International has published a special issue of its journal on “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Transplantation”. This issue presents a collection of studies that examine inequities in transplantation related to race, gender, socioeconomics, and geography, providing evidence and insights into these persistent disparities. Download the pdf of the special issue of Transplant International at
The Pulmonary Vascular Research Institute (PVRI) organised a patient-directed webinar on “Debunking Myths of Lung Transplantation” on September 25, 2024. This was an outstanding webinar: the explanations were exceptionally clear and delivered in easy-to-understand language, covering every step of the transplant journey—from getting listed and preparing for surgery, through the operation and immediate post-op, to
According to Paul Wischmeyer, Professor of Anesthesiology and Surgery with Tenure and Director of Perioperative Research, at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, USA, virtual reality technology offers a promising solution to improve patient well-being in intensive care settings. Staying in intensive care can be an incredibly challenging and disorienting experience for patients. Many face severe
The 30th The Transplantation Society (TTS) Annual Congress in Istanbul brought together over 2.500 transplant professionals from 90 countries, with a further 500 attending remotely. It began with a memorable opening ceremony, attended by prominent figures such as the Minister of Health, the Governor, and the Mayor of Istanbul. The ceremony featured a compelling speech
Welcome to the third edition of the Alliance for Pulmonary Hypertension’s “Sharing best practices” series of articles. See also: Sharing best practices on how to implement shared decision making and support patient empowerment: Prof. Marc Humbert, Head of the French Pulmonary Hypertension National Referral network Sharing best practices in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension surgical and
