Over 40,000 individuals will undergo organ transplants this year, including almost 3,000 who will receive a second chance at life through a donor lung transplant. Conditions such as COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and even rare conditions like mirrored lungs can necessitate a lung transplant.
Yahaira Vega was born with a rare disorder that affects the tiny hairlike structures in her airway, leading to difficulties in removing germs and pollutants from her lungs. Additionally, her organs in her chest and abdomen were reversed, a condition known as situs inversus. Dennis Deer also had situs inversus which caused his health to deteriorate to the point where he struggled to walk even short distances without gasping for air.
Both Yahaira and Dennis underwent double-lung transplants at Northwestern Medicine, becoming the first patients to receive this procedure for situs inversus at the facility. Dr. Ankit Bharat, a thoracic surgeon at Northwestern Medicine, explained the complexities of fitting normal lungs into a mirrored cavity during the transplant surgery.
Following their successful surgeries, both Dennis and Yahaira were able to return to their normal lives, grateful for the opportunity to breathe freely once again. Situs inversus is a rare condition affecting approximately one in every 10,000 individuals, with many patients unaware of their condition until seeking medical attention for unrelated health issues.
