Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

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Rob Dylan
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Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by Rob Dylan »

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137804/lauda-recovering-from-lung-transplant-surgery

To quote the Autosport headline. No news or statements that I've seen yet. No idea of the graveness of the illness or the health situation, so I don't know whether to treat this as deadly serious or a successful recovery from a necessary operation.

Thoughts go out to Niki and his family.
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

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Autosport wrote: He was reportedly taken ill while on holiday in Ibiza recently, and flew to Vienna for treatment for a "severe cough".

A statement from the Vienna General Hospital said: "Due to a severe affection of the lungs, Niki Lauda had to undergo a lung transplantation at the AKH Vienna today.

"The transplantation was done successfully by Walter Klepetko, head of thoracic surgery, and Konrad Hotzenecker.

"We kindly ask for your understanding that the family won't give any official statements and we ask to protect the privacy of the Lauda family."


Autosport also made mention of some crash that he had about 40 years ago that might have affected his lungs... If that was indeed a factor, 42 years is a decent time...
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by Collieafc »

dr-baker wrote:Autosport also made mention of some crash that he had about 40 years ago that might have affected his lungs... If that was indeed a factor, 42 years is a decent time...


Given that he was not expected to survive his Nurburgring crash, the fact he returned to racing in a matter of weeks, went on to win the title next season and is the only driver to come out of retirement and win another title says a hell of a lot of the mans fighting spirit

Thoughts with Niki
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by dr-baker »

Collieafc wrote:
dr-baker wrote:Autosport also made mention of some crash that he had about 40 years ago that might have affected his lungs... If that was indeed a factor, 42 years is a decent time...


Given that he was not expected to survive his Nurburgring crash, the fact he returned to racing in a matter of weeks, went on to win the title next season and is the only driver to come out of retirement and win another title says a hell of a lot of the mans fighting spirit.

Exactly.
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by mario »

dr-baker wrote:
Autosport wrote: He was reportedly taken ill while on holiday in Ibiza recently, and flew to Vienna for treatment for a "severe cough".

A statement from the Vienna General Hospital said: "Due to a severe affection of the lungs, Niki Lauda had to undergo a lung transplantation at the AKH Vienna today.

"The transplantation was done successfully by Walter Klepetko, head of thoracic surgery, and Konrad Hotzenecker.

"We kindly ask for your understanding that the family won't give any official statements and we ask to protect the privacy of the Lauda family."


Autosport also made mention of some crash that he had about 40 years ago that might have affected his lungs... If that was indeed a factor, 42 years is a decent time...

It sounds as if the surgeon has said that the decision to go ahead with the transplant wasn't influenced by his accident all those years ago - it's been suggested that the main driver was a bacterial infection that he had.

At least the news that has come forth so far has been fairly positive, as it sounds as if he's in a stable condition right now - it sounds like it might be a slightly slower recovery due to his age, based on what the surgeon has said, but the initial omens seem good.
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

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Just been speaking to a GP (a medical doctor) over dinner, and he said it would be unusual for someone to have a lung transplant after an acute bacterial infection. So I wonder if the lung damage he suffered in 1976 made fighting off this infection more difficult?
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by Rob Dylan »

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137882/more-details-of-lauda-condition-released

It seems the news is now more hopeful coming from Lauda. He will be recovering for several weeks, and it's only then that we can really conclude he's fine. But certainly better news than I was expecting!
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

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https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/137926/lauda-was-days-away-from-death-say-doctors

A little simultaneous worry and hope for Lauda after the explanation. It does look like his condition was very serious and that he was close to death, but it also looks like the surgery to stop it was entirely successful. In a few weeks he'll be out of hospital, and maybe even back on the F1 paddock by the end of the year. Who knows how long Niki will remain healthy for, but the important thing is that he's ok :)
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

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dr-baker wrote:Just been speaking to a GP (a medical doctor) over dinner, and he said it would be unusual for someone to have a lung transplant after an acute bacterial infection. So I wonder if the lung damage he suffered in 1976 made fighting off this infection more difficult?


Ok, so that Autosport article totally rules out that it was anything to do with the Nurburgring smoke inhalation and subsequent vacuuming of lungs. The explanation seems to make sense, based on what I know as a student nurse, but I probably will do more reading about the condition at a later date.
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by Rob Dylan »

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/140887/lauda-returns-to-hospital-after-contracting-flu

Lauda has returned to hospital after getting flu over Christmas. All official word says it's precautionary, which is a relief, though I do feel for the guy and his family. Let's hope he recovers soon again.
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Re: Niki Lauda recovering from lung transplant surgery

Post by Faustus »

The ridiculous amount of immunosuppressants that he is bound to be on will make him very suspectible to infection.

A third of lung transplant recipients develop acute rejection during the first year. Hope it's not that.
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