New lung treatment could increase lung donor pool

A new lung treatment looks set to substantially increase the lung donor pool in Ireland.

The first transplant involving the treatment was successfully carried out in the past few months.

20-year-old Cystic Fibrosis patient Leigh Bagnall was the first person in Ireland to benefit from an Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion Transplant.

Now what that means is that a donors lungs were treated before transplantation, improving the quality of the organ.

It allows lungs that would not previously have been useable to be donated.

Lung Transplant Surgeon here at the Mater Karen Redmond has said it will increase the pool of lungs available.