In November 1990, a lung transplantation program began at the University Hospital in Groningen, the Netherlands. As of April 1994, 300 patients were referred for lung transplantation and we investigated the decisions that have been made concerning these referrals up to January 1, 1995. The patients were evaluated according to a stepwise procedure. In stage 1, written information about the referred patients was discussed during the weekly, multidisciplinary lung transplantation meeting. In this stage, 14% of the patients were rejected and 2% were postponed. If no major objections for transplantation were identified, the patient was invited for a visit to the outpatient clinic, stage 2. The newly acquired information from that visit was discussed again at the transplantation meeting. In this stage, 11% of the patients were rejected and 18% postponed. The remaining patients underwent an (partial or complete) inpatient evaluation, stage 3. From all patients about whom a decision was made in this stage, only 5% were rejected, respectively 35% after partial evaluation and only 1.5% after complete evaluation. A total of 110 patients (37% of all referred patients) were listed for lung transplantation, stage 4. Of the listed patients, 20% died while awaiting an appropriate donor. The group of patients with COPD/emphysema had by far the lowest death rate on the waiting list. Patients with short stature (< or = 1.65 m) had a much higher risk to die on the waiting list compared with patients with longer stature, 42% vs 13%. As of January 1, 1995, 55 patients have undergone transplantation, which is 50% of all patients on the waiting list and 18% of all referred patients. The stepwise selection procedure identifies patients with potential contraindications at an early stage. In this way, unrealistic expectations and unnecessary examinations, expense, and/or hospital admissions may be prevented. Donor shortage, and thus waiting list problems, still remains a significant drawback in the further development of lung transplantation.