Update on cystic fibrosis: selected aspects related to lung transplantation

Over the last decade there has been a consid-erable increase in the lifespan of patients with cys-tic fibrosis to over 30 years. In the majority of pa-tients death is still due to respiratory failure. In pa-tients with advanced pulmonary disease lung transplantation is the only effective therapeutic option, not only to prolong survival but also to en-hance quality of life. Cystic fibrosis is the major in-dication for lung transplantation in Switzerland, and over 33 % of all lung transplants are performed in patients with cystic fibrosis. With increasing ex-perience of lung transplantation worldwide and in this country, evidence is accumulating which will guide practice in patient selection and timing of transplant, as well as postoperative managemen