Lung Transplantation
Unfortunately, lung capacity falls to very low levels in some people with this disease, despite treatment. In such cases, doctors may recommend getting a lung transplant. While this procedure can greatly improve the life expectancy of people with pulmonary fibrosis, the process puts a lot of strain on the body. It is also quite expensive.
A major limitation is the scarcity of donor lungs. According to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation [6], there are only about 1,000 donor lungs available for people with this condition every year. This means many people with the disease will never get a lung transplant.
Doctors often consider many factors when deciding on lung transplantation as a treatment option. These include how bad the condition is, the rate of progression, the potential for improvement following the transplant, and the patient’s age and general health. Very few people qualify.