On the waiting list for a donor lung

If your lungs are no longer working properly, a lung transplant may be necessary. You may then be placed on the waiting list.

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

You may 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 working much less effectively
You have little energy to do anything and get tired quickly.

When are you placed on the waiting list?

Before you are placed on the waiting list, you will have consultations and examinations at the hospital. The transplant team will then determine whether a lung transplant 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. Look in the table at 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. How long you have to wait for a transplant cannot be predicted.

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

Point system: LAS score

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

What is the LAS score?

Everyone aged 12 and over on the lung waiting list receives a Lung Allocation Score (LAS score). This score is between 0 and 100. The score shows how urgently you need a transplant and what your survival chances are after the transplant.

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

The doctor enters medical data for this, such as:

Your lung function.
Blood test results.
The outcome of a walking test.

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

Children under 12 years of age automatically receive the maximum LAS score of 100, so that they are given priority if 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 includes looking at:

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 doctor must request this; a special team of doctors will assess whether you are eligible.

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

Explanatory video about the waiting list

Can I also receive lungs from a donor abroad?

Yes. Through Eurotransplant, the Netherlands collaborates with 8 European countries. 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?

The risk of rejection is highest in the first 3 months after the operation. That sounds daunting, but it often helps to adjust the medication when signs of rejection occur.
5 years after the operation, about 66% of donor lungs are still functioning well.
If the donor lungs no longer function properly, you can sometimes receive another lung transplant.

After the transplant

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

Recovery after transplant

More information

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