Researchers at the University of Minnesota have found that lung transplant mortality or major complications have not increased since the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNO'S) and Organ Procurement Transplant Network (OPTN) revised the policy for lung allocations to transplant candidates in 2005.

The study, authored by Dr's Jonathan McCue, Josh Mooney, Jacob Quail, Amanda Arrington, Cynthia Herrington, and Peter Dahlberg, all affiliated with the University of Minnesota, compared 78 transplants before the allocation system was implemented and after, and compared survival rates at 90 days and one year. The authors found a small but significant improvement in survival rates for post-LAS implementation patients, and incidence of rejection or major complications did not differ between groups.

Source: J Heart & Lung Transplant 2008;27:192-6. Copyright 2008 International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation. Editorial summary.