The University Clinical Centre (UCK) at the Medical University of Gdańsk has successfully completed its 200th lung transplant since launching the programme in 2018, cementing its position among Europe’s leading transplant centres.
The landmark surgery was performed on 48-year-old Marek from Wrocław, who suffered from advanced COPD and secondary pulmonary hypertension. Just a month after the procedure, he reports walking five flights of stairs and over 7,000 steps daily – a stark contrast to his previous dependence on oxygen support.
In 2024 alone, the Gdańsk centre performed 50 lung transplants – a figure matched by only a handful of hospitals worldwide. “Combining high transplant volume with top-tier results is our greatest pride,” said Dr. Jacek Wojarski, head of UCK’s lung transplant programme.
Lung transplants, often the last hope for patients with end-stage respiratory failure, are performed in just six centres across Poland. UCK’s rapid rise is attributed to its exceptional outcomes and pioneering procedures, including combined heart-lung transplants and operations on older patients.
Source: Medical University of Gdańsk
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