What is the survival rate after a lung transplant?

Around 78 percent of lung transplant recipients survive the first year following transplantation, as of 2015, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Around 63 percent survive the first three years, and approximately 51 percent are alive after five years.

The first year following a lung transplant is a critical period for patients, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The risk of complications, such as infection or rejection, is greatest during the first year. The median overall survival rate for recipients of one lung is 4.6 years, while the median survival rate for recipients of two lungs is slightly greater at 6.6 years.