Lung transplant in Turkey

How much does a lung transplant cost in Turkey?

The cost of a lung transplant in Turkey varies from €60,000 to €90,000. This price includes the cost of transport, the appointment with the oncologist and surgeon, accommodation, translation services, and medication in an accredited partner hospital.

Lung transplant in Turkey

80.000 €

Introduction

Lung transplantation is another piece of medical magic. As complex as heart, liver or kidney transplants, this medical procedure offers a second chance of life to people suffering from cancer or other serious lung diseases.

Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, specialises in this type of thoracic surgery. It has become one of the world’s top five centres for organ transplants. And not without good reason! Its hospitals and clinics have state-of-the-art infrastructures.

And the cost of operations and treatment is relatively affordable compared with other countries. Are you looking for quality care? Turkish surgeons are highly experienced. They are among the most professional and qualified in the world. They know how to take good care of you and your sick body.

Thousands of international patients choose to seek medical care in Turkey every year to regain their health. Many of them have chosen to entrust their care to a medical travel agency. There are many advantages to be gained.

What is a lung transplant?

A lung that can no longer be healed can be replaced. The procedure is called medical transplantation. One or both lungs can be transplanted. This depends on the patient’s needs and the severity of their lung disease. The transplanted lung comes from a living or deceased donor whose lung health is impeccable and who also meets a number of criteria relating to :

• Age (under 65)
• Behaviour and lifestyle: non-smoker
• Compatibility (lung size, blood group, etc.)

Worldwide, around 2,000 people undergo a lung transplant every year. In France, there are around 350 recipients every year.

Who is eligible for a lung transplant in Turkey?

The following criteria apply to candidates for a lung transplant in a Turkish hospital:

• There is no minimum age for receiving a lung transplant, but you must be under 65.
• Be in good physical condition to withstand the operation and its aftermath.
• Not be suffering from any serious untreated illnesses , such as cancer.

Read our special report on radiotherapy in Istanbul.

When is a lung transplant possible?

This operation is an option in the following situations:

• The disease affecting the lung is serious and irreversible and conventional medical and surgical treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.) no longer have any effect on it.
• The infection has progressed to such an extent that the patient’s quality of life is severely affected
• Medication and pulmonary rehabilitation are no longer able to control symptoms
• The patient’s lung condition deteriorates rapidly, increasing the risk of death

Diseases include cancer, cystic fibrosis (CF),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and sarcoidosis. After a thorough assessment of the patient and his or her condition, a specialist medical team decides whether or not a transplant is feasible .

Read our report on heart transplants in Turkey.

What are the risks, complications and side-effects?

Lung transplants involve risks and complications that it is important to be aware of before considering them.

Complications:

• Sometimes the recipient’s immune system considers the new lung to be an invader and wants to reject it.
• After the operation, some patients may have difficulty breathing. This may be due to the airways or the lungs themselves.
• As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding during or after the operation.
• Patients are likely to develop clots in the lungs or legs. These are known as pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis.

Side effects

Here are the undesirable effects of lung transplantation:

• Recipients are required to take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection. These are responsible for side effects such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and kidney problems.
• Recovery from a lung transplant can be long and tiring.
• The recipient may feel pain at the incision site and in the chest after the operation
• Nausea, vomiting or digestive problems are often associated with the stress of the operation and the medication taken.

How is the operation carried out?

Lung transplantation in Turkey takes place in 3 stages:

Preparation

• During the initial consultations, the doctors carry out a series of diagnoses and tests. The aim is to check whether the patient is in reasonably good health and whether their body is suitable for a transplant.
• If the patient meets the ideal profile, he or she is placed on a waiting list to receive a lung that is compatible.
• The patient and their family receive psychological support from the medical profession. This is important to help them reduce the stress before and after the operation.

Our dossier on kidney transplants in Turkey.

Operation

It takes around 4 to 8 hours to replace a lung. In the case of a double-lung transplant, the operation takes between 6 and 12 hours.

• The recipient is put under general anaesthetic in the operating theatre
• An incision is made in the chest using a method that varies according to the number of lungs to be transplanted
• The diseased lungs are removed
• The surgeons attach the new lungs to the patient’s blood vessels and airways using sutures and staples.

Our dossier on liver transplantation in Turkey.

Convalescence

• After a lung transplant, the patient usually stays in hospital for between 7 and 14 days. During this time, the doctors closely monitor the patient’s state of health.
• Once discharged from hospital, they must visit their doctor regularly to check that their new lungs are working properly and to adjust their medication if necessary.
• The patient also undergoes a pulmonary re-education programme to improve her physical and respiratory capacity.

What are the results of a lung transplant in Turkey?

Results vary according to a number of factors. Overall, around 85% of patients survive one year after a lung transplant. This rate falls over time, to 70-75% after five years and around 50% after ten years.

Several factors can influence the success of a lung transplant. For example

• Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a 46% survival rate five years after surgery.
• It is 42% over the same period for those suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Finally, for patients with pulmonary fibrosis, the five-year survival rate is 36%.

Patients who survive thoracic surgery can often see a significant improvement in their quality of life.

Read our report on pancreas transplants in Turkey.

How long can I stay in Turkey for this operation?

For a lung transplant in Turkey, you should plan to stay for 2 to 3 months:

• A few days to a week for pre-operative examinations and assessments,
• 2 to 3 weeks in hospital after the operation,
• 1 to 2 months for post-operative follow-up and regular medical check-ups.

Why have a lung transplant in Turkey?

There are several advantages to having a lung transplant in Turkey:

• Operations carried out by experienced surgeons
• The cost of medical procedures is often lower than in Western countries.
• Advanced medical technology.
• Tourist destination served by several international flights.

In France, around 44 airlines offer this service. Note that Istanbul is 3 hours and 55 minutes by plane from Paris.

---

Frequently asked questions about lung transplantation