The 1st lung transplantation from brain dead donor at Fukuoka University Hospital

On July 1st 2005, the lung transplantation service at Fukuoka University Hospital was officially authorized to perform clinical lung transplantations from brain dead donors and therefore started to gather possible transplant candidates for the Japan Organ Transplant Network (JOTNW) waiting list. On October 28 th 2006 a lung graft from a brain dead donor in Fukushima prefecture was identified which suitably matched one of the Fukuoka candidates and therefore a left lung transplantation was performed immediately after the long range transport of the lung graft from the donor hospital. After the transplantation operation was performed, the postoperative course was uneventful and the recipient was discharged from hospital 60-days after surgery. The patient required continuous high dose oxygen inhalation 24 hours a day before transplant, however, he became free from oxygen support by 30 days after surgery. The postoperative performance status of the recipient had shown a dramatic improvement at the time of discharge. He is now preparing to make a full return to his previous work and social life.