Letters
Health services administration
Volume 188 - Issue 7

Successful lung transplantation for adolescents at a hospital for adults

Authors:  Gregory I Snell, Glen P Westall and Trevor J Williams

Med J Aust 2008; 188 (7): 430-431. || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01703.x
Published online: 7 April 2008
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In reply: We thank Robotin for her positive comments. We agree that the current successful lung transplantation outcomes for adolescents in Australia should be able to be extended to the whole paediatric population in due course.,2 The appropriate timing of the operation and peritransplantation management of young children with advanced lung diseases requires further consideration and debate.3 This should involve the existing lung transplantation services and specific committed paediatric institutions.

However, we disagree that a very low caseload, with procedures performed in a number of institutions, is acceptable. On the basis of cost, training, staffing and political support, it is appropriate to concentrate the expertise. A solid case can be made for a national approach, supported by the Australian Government, with Nationally Funded Centre status. In time, this would provide solid paediatric expertise and access to lung transplantation, either in Australia, or even overseas, as appropriate, during the early evolution of such a program. The objective would be improved survival in children with severe lung disease while minimising the disruption and cost associated with young Australians and their families travelling internationally for lung transplantation care.

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