First successful lung transplant in Kiev with the assistance of MedUni Vienna and the University Hospital Vienna

Lung transplantation is one of the most complex medical procedures and cannot yet be performed in many parts of the world. Many years ago, the Vienna Lung Transplant Programme of MedUni Vienna and University Hospital Vienna began offering structured training for colleagues from neighbouring countries with the aim of them starting independent lung transplant programmes. In 2021, a team from the Kiev University Hospital took part in the structured training over several months. The outbreak of war in Ukraine prevented the start of their own transplant programme. However, contact between the university hospitals in Vienna and Kiev was maintained and the team in Kiev succeeded in establishing a waiting list for lung transplants. After meticulous preparation, the first successful lung transplant was now performed in Kiev on 21 March 2023.

"The patient, a 50-year-old fibrosis patient, is doing very well. He could be extubated as early as on the first postoperative day. Without the assistance from Vienna, this would not have been possible," says Vitali Sokolov, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ukraine.
Within the framework of the Vienna Lung Transplant Programme, lung transplant programmes have already been established in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Slovenia, Croatia and Greece. The start of the programme in Ukraine is now a special occasion for all involved due to the difficult conditions. "The people in Ukraine are determined not to let things get them down and we are trying to move on with our lives as best we can. The fact that we are able to perform a complex procedure such as lung transplantation here is a strong sign of the positive thinking and perseverance of the Ukrainian people," says Vitali Sokolov.