The first lung transplantation in Iran was performed 6 years ago on a 30 year old patient who was suffering from emphysema. Since then 12 lung transplantations have been performed. Surgery was successful in 8 patients. 4 patients died exactly after surgery because of severe pulmonary hypertension or severe pulmonary congestion. One patient died 2 weeks after operation with pulmonary edema due to fat and bone emboli in donor lung vessels. Two of the patients died 9 and 11 months after surgery. The death reason was incompliance in follow up and taking medications respectively. One patient died with severe resistant bacterial membranous bronchitis 5 months after transplant. At this moment, four of the patients are alive after lung transplantation; it has passed 75, 71, 11 and 3 months after their operation. There are at least 134 patient in lung transplant list whom one forth of them die every year patients while they are waiting for transplantation and the patients list is growing daily.
Unfortunately in spite of having the technology and science of lung transplantation in Iran because of the donor shortage only 1-5 lung transplant can be done every year. There are some organizations that are focusing on educating and improving the culture of people toward organ donation. The number of organ procurement units is increasing so we are hoping to have more lung transplant and be able to give services to other countries.