Lung perfusion, or "lungs in a box," allows surgeons to repair damaged donor lungs, while lung refrigeration, or "lungs in a fridge," preserves the lungs for a longer period of time than standard transplant procedures. The lung transplant team successfully used "lungs in a fridge" for about 12 patients in 2024, the release said.

Doctors at Northwestern Medicine say medical innovations helped them achieve two medical milestones last year: the largest number of lung transplants in a single year and the shortest median wait time for transplants.