Lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis

Lung transplantation is a well accepted treatment for end-stage cystic fibrosis. Despite these successes, many cystic fibrosis patients die awaiting lung transplantation, primarily because of the lack of donor organs. As a result, appropriate allocation of donor organs is necessary to maximize the success of transplantation for the CF population. In addition, optimizing potential transplant candidates by identifying and treating multidrug resistant organisms such as Burkholderia cepacia as well as addressing poor physical condition caused by malnutrition and deconditioning may improve overall outcome after transplantation. Advances in surgical techniques and the continued success of living related donor transplantation have increased the supply of available organs. In this article, we will review the current literature in cystic fibrosis, particularly in regards to transplantation over the past year.