On the waiting list for a donor lung

If your lungs no longer function properly, a lung transplantation may be necessary. You can then be placed on the waiting list.

Your lungs provide oxygen to your body. If your lungs are functioning very poorly and other treatments no longer help, a lung transplantation may be the only solution.

You may then experience symptoms such as:

Too little oxygen in your blood.
Too much carbon dioxide in your body. This can cause headaches, drowsiness, or even unconsciousness.
Your lungs are functioning much less effectively
You have little energy to undertake activities and tire easily.

When do you get on the waiting list?

Before you are placed on the waiting list, you will have consultations and examinations at the hospital. The transplantation team will then assess whether a lung transplantation is possible for you and whether you are physically and mentally fit enough for surgery.

How many people are waiting for a donor lung?

As of July 31, 2025, there were 162 people on the active waiting list for a donor lung.

Below you will find the current waiting list figures. Check the table in the top right (latest monthly figures) in the 'Transplantable' column.

How long do I have to wait?

If you are on a waiting list for a donor lung, you naturally want to know how soon it will be your turn. It is impossible to predict how long you will have to wait for a transplantation.

The waiting time depends, among other things, on the number of people on the waiting list, how many organs become available, the severity of the illness (LAS score), and whether the donor liver matches you.

Point system: LAS score

The waiting list for a donor lung uses a point system. You receive points based on the severity of the illness. This is called the LAS score.

What is the LAS score?

Everyone aged 12 and older on the lung waiting list receives a Lung Allocation Score (LAS score). This score ranges between 0 and 100. The score indicates how urgently you need a transplantation and what your chances of survival are after transplantation.

The higher your score, the higher you are on the list for a matching donor lung.

To this end, the physician enters medical data such as:

Your lung function.
Results of blood tests.
The outcome of a walking test.

The LAS score is automatically calculated by a computer program from Eurotransplant.

Children under the age of 12 automatically receive the maximum LAS score of 100, giving them priority when a suitable donor is available.

Allocation of donor lungs

When donor lungs become available, the system compares the donor's data with the data of the patients on the waiting list. This involves looking at factors such as:

Your blood type.
Your age.
Your height and weight.
Your lung capacity.
Your LAS score.

Are you on the waiting list for multiple organs (such as lungs and liver, pancreas, or small intestine)? Then you may receive a higher LAS score. Your physician must request this; a special team of physicians will evaluate whether you qualify.

Are you waiting for a heart and lungs? Then a different allocation system applies, namely that of heart transplantation.

Explainer video about the waiting list

Can I also receive lungs from a donor abroad?

Yes. The Netherlands collaborates with 8 European countries through Eurotransplant. This allows donor lungs to reach the people who need them most more quickly. At the same time, it ensures a fair distribution among the participating countries.

How long do donor lungs last?

In the first 3 months after the surgery, the risk of rejection is highest. That sounds stressful, but adjusting medications often helps when symptoms of rejection occur.
5 years after the surgery, about 66% of the donor lungs are still functioning well.
If the donor lungs stop working properly, you can sometimes undergo another lung transplant.

After the transplant

A transplant is a major surgery. You need time to recover physically and mentally.

Recovery after transplant

More information

Do you have questions about your own situation? Ask your doctor, as they know your medical situation best.