Lung transplantation, ex-vivo reconditioning and regeneration: state of the art and perspectives

Lung transplantation is a consolidated surgical therapy of end-stage pulmonary failure, in selected patients, when maximal medical therapy fails. The shortage of donor pool available for transplantation is often not enough to satisfy the request. It is estimated that only 15–20% of the multi-organ donors have suitable lungs for transplantation (1,2). This situation leads to an increasing waiting list mortality, condition seen as failure of a lung transplant program