Patient Resources

Lung Transplant

What is a lung transplant?

A lung transplant is surgery done to remove a diseased lung and replace it with a healthy lung from another person. The surgery may be done for one lung or for both. Lung transplants can be done on people of almost all ages. They can be done on newborns to adults up to age 65. And sometimes even older.

Types of lung transplant procedures include:

Single lung. This is the transplant of 1 lung.
Double lung. This is the transplant of both lungs.
Bilateral sequential. This is the transplant of both lungs, done one at a time.
Heart-lung transplant. This is the transplant of both lungs and the heart taken from a single donor.

Most lungs that are transplanted come from organ donors who have died. This type of transplant is called a deceased donor transplant. Healthy, nonsmoking adults who are a good match may be able to donate part of one of their lungs. The part of the lung is called a lobe. This type of transplant is called a living transplant. People who donate a lung lobe can live healthy lives with the remaining lungs.

Why might I need a lung transplant?

A lung transplant may be advised for someone who:

Has severe lung problems that can’t be improved with any other treatment, and
Has a life expectancy of 12 to 24 months without a transplant

A lung transplant may be needed for these health conditions:

Severe cystic fibrosis (CF). This is an inherited disease that causes problems in the glands that make sweat and mucus. It is ongoing (chronic), gets worse over time, and is often fatal.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). These are lung diseases that can interfere with normal breathing.
Pulmonary hypertension. This is increased blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.
Heart disease. Heart disease or heart defects that affect the lungs may need a heart-lung transplant.
Pulmonary fibrosis. This is scarring of the lungs.
Other diseases. Other conditions that can cause severe lung damage include sarcoidosis, histiocytosis, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Also some hereditary conditions can affect the lungs.

Not all people with these conditions need a lung transplant. A lung transplant is not advised as a treatment for lung cancer. Your healthcare provider may have other reasons to advise a lung transplant.

What are the risks of a lung transplant?

All procedures have some risks. The risks of this procedure may include:

Bleeding
Infection
Blocked blood vessels to the new lung
Blocked airways
Fluid in the lung (severe pulmonary edema)
Blood clots
Rejection of the new lung
Death

Rejection is a major risk of transplant. This is a normal body reaction to a foreign object or tissue. When an organ is transplanted into your body, the immune system sees it as a threat and attacks the organ. To allow the transplanted organ to survive in a new body, antirejection medicines are used (immunosuppressants). They trick the immune system into not attacking the transplant. You will need to take these medicines for the rest of your life. These medicines have a lot of side effects. The exact side effects will depend on the specific medicines that are taken.

In some cases, a lung transplant is not advised. Reasons for this can include:

Current or repeated infection that can’t be treated
Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer)
Severe heart problems
Health problems that make the person unable to handle surgery
Serious health conditions other than lung disease that won’t get better after transplant
Not being willing or able to stick to all treatment requirements for getting a lung transplant

Your risks may vary depending on your general health and other factors. Ask your healthcare provider which risks apply most to you. Talk with them about any concerns you have.

How do I get ready for a lung transplant?

To get a lung from an organ donor who has died, you will first be evaluated by a transplant team. The team may include:

A transplant surgeon
A healthcare provider specializing in the treatment of the lungs (transplant pulmonologist)
One or more transplant nurses
A social worker
A psychiatrist or psychologist
A dietitian
A chaplain
An anesthesiologist

The transplant evaluation process includes:

Psychological and social evaluation. This includes assessing your stress, financial issues, and support by family and other loved ones. These issues can have a major effect on the outcome of a transplant.
Blood tests. Blood tests are needed to help find a good donor match. This helps improve the chances that the donor organ won't be rejected.
Diagnostic tests. Tests may be done to check your lungs and your overall health. These tests may include X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, pulmonary function tests, lung biopsy, and dental exams. Some people may also get a Pap test, gynecology evaluation, and a mammogram.
Stopping smoking. Lung transplant recipients who smoke must quit. They must be nicotine-free for a few months before being put on the transplant list.
Other preparations. Several immunizations will be given. These are to lessen the chance of infections that can affect the transplanted lung.

The transplant team will decide if you are a good candidate for a lung transplant. To do this, they will look at all the information from your interviews, your health history, physical exam, and diagnostic tests.

Once you have been accepted as a transplant candidate, you will be placed on a waiting list of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Waiting times vary greatly. They depend on which organ you need, your age, your blood type, and the reason for your transplant. People who can't wait may be considered for lung transplant from a living donor.

When a deceased donor organ is available, you will be notified. You will be told to come to the hospital right away so you can be prepared for the transplant. If you are getting a lung from a living donor, the transplant can be done at a planned time. The possible donor must have a compatible blood type and be in good health. Psychological tests will be done to be sure the donor is fine with the decision.

Before the transplant:

Your transplant team will explain the procedure to you. You will be able to ask any questions about the procedure.
You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the surgery. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear.
For a deceased donor organ transplant, don’t eat or drink as soon as you are told that a lung has become available.
For a planned living donor transplant, follow any directions you are given for not eating or drinking before the surgery.
You may be given a sedative before the surgery to help you relax.

Your healthcare providers may give you other specific instructions to get ready.

What happens during a lung transplant?

A lung transplant requires a hospital stay. The way the procedure is done may vary. It depends on your condition and your healthcare provider's methods. In most cases, the surgery will follow this process:

You will be asked to remove your clothes and given a hospital gown to wear. You will also be asked to remove jewelry or other objects.
A plastic bracelet with your name and an identification number will be put on your wrist. You may get a second bracelet if you have allergies.
An IV (intravenous) line will be put in your arm or hand.
Thin, flexible tubes (catheters) will be put in your neck, wrist, under the collarbone, or the groin. These are used to watch your heart and blood pressure, and to take blood samples.
You will lie down on an operating table. For a single lung transplant, you will lie on your side. For a bilateral sequential lung transplant, you will lie on your back with your arms above your head.
You will be given general anesthesia. This is medicine that prevents pain and lets you sleep through the procedure.
A breathing tube will be put into your throat and hooked up to a breathing machine (ventilator). Your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing will be watched during the procedure.
A catheter will be put into your bladder to drain urine during the surgery.
Hair at the surgical site may be trimmed. The skin will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution.
The surgeon will make a cut (incision) in your chest. For a single lung transplant, the cut will be made on the side of chest where the lung will be replaced. For a bilateral sequential transplant, the cut will be made horizontally across the chest below the breasts.
Depending on your lung condition and the type of transplant being done, you may be put on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine (heart-lung machine). This machine sends blood and oxygen to your body during the procedure.
The diseased lung will be removed and replaced with the donor lung. The new lung's blood vessels and airways will be attached. For a bilateral sequential transplant, the lungs will be attached one at a time.
The cut will be closed with stitches or surgical staples.
A bandage or dressing will be put on the incision site.
One or more tubes will be put in your chest. These are to remove air, fluid, and blood from the chest and to allow the new lung to expand fully.
A thin tube (epidural catheter) may be put in. This is done to send pain medicine into your back. It may be done in the operating room or in the recovery room.

What happens after a lung transplant?

After the surgery, you may be taken to a recovery room. You will then be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU). There you will be watched closely. You will be in the ICU for several days. You will be in the hospital for 7 to 14 days or longer.

In the ICU

You will be connected to monitors that will constantly show your heart rhythms, blood pressure, breathing rate, and oxygen level.
The catheter will stay in your bladder until you can pass urine on your own.
You will have a breathing tube in your throat hooked up to a ventilator. The tube will stay in place until you can breathe on your own. This may be for a few hours up to several days.
You may have a thin, plastic tube put through your nose and into your stomach. This is to remove air that you swallow. The tube will be taken out when your bowels work normally again. You will not be able to eat or drink until the tube is removed.
Blood samples will be taken several times a day. These are done to check the health of the new lung, and your kidneys, liver, and blood system.
You may be on special IV medicine to help your blood pressure and your heart, and to control any problems with bleeding.
You will be given pain medicine as needed. This may be given by a nurse, through an epidural catheter. Or you may give it to yourself through a device connected to your IV.
Once the breathing and stomach tubes have been removed and your condition has stabilized, you may start drinking liquids. Your diet may slowly include more solid foods as you are able to eat them.
Your antirejection medicines will be closely watched to make sure you are getting the right dose and the best combination of medicines.
Nurses, respiratory therapists, and physical therapists will work with you as you begin physical therapy and breathing exercises.

When your healthcare provider feels you are ready, you will be moved from the ICU to a private room on a regular nursing unit or transplant unit. Your recovery will continue there. You will increase your activity by getting out of bed and walking around for longer periods of time. Catheters and tubes will be removed. Your diet will progress to solid foods.

Nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, physical therapists, and other members of the transplant team will work with you and your family members. They will teach you how to take care of yourself once you are discharged from the hospital.

At home

Keep the incision clean and dry. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions for careful bathing and wound care. The stitches or staples will be removed during a follow-up office visit.
Don't drive until your healthcare provider says it’s OK. You may need to not do other types of activity for a while.

You will have follow-up visits often after leaving the hospital. These visits may include:

Blood tests
Pulmonary function tests
Chest X-ray
An exam of the main airways of the lungs using a long, thin tube with a camera (bronchoscopy)
Removal of tissue from the lung for examination (biopsy)

The transplant team will explain the schedule for these tests. Your rehab program will continue for many months.

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare team
Chills
Redness or swelling of the cut
Blood or other fluid leaking from the cut
Pain around the cut that gets worse
Feeling short of breath
Trouble breathing
Chest pain

Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions after the procedure.

To allow the transplanted lung to survive in your body, you will take medicines for the rest of your life to fight rejection. Each person may react differently to the medicines. Each transplant team has preferences for different antirejection medicines. Healthcare providers tailor medicine plans to meet the needs of each person. In most cases, 3 types of antirejection medicines are given. Anti-rejection medicines affect the way the immune system works, so people on these medicines have a higher risk for infections. The doses of these medicines may change often, depending on your response. While taking these medicines, you will be more likely to have certain infections. These include oral yeast infection (thrush), herpes, and respiratory viruses. For the first few months after surgery, make sure to stay away from crowds and anyone who has an infection. Restrict visitors to your home while you are recovering. Stay away from any people or places where smoking is allowed. And don't allow smoking in your home.

Call your transplant team if you have signs of rejection, such as:

Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your healthcare team
Chills
Flu-like symptoms such as body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Tiredness
Feeling short of breath
Cough
New chest pain
Swelling
Making less urine than usual

Social and emotional concerns after transplant

A lung transplant is a major life event. It can cause mood changes and changes in sexual function. It can also cause relational stress and concerns about body image. Depression or anxiety can happen before, during, or after a transplant. Discuss your concerns with your healthcare team. There may be a social worker, counselor, or case manager who can help. Support groups are also available in person or online. Ask your healthcare team about local support groups.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure, make sure you know:

The name of the test or procedure
The reason you are having the test or procedure
What results to expect and what they mean
The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
What the possible side effects or complications are
When and where you are to have the test or procedure
Who will do the test or procedure and what that person’s qualifications are
What would happen if you did not have the test or procedure
Any alternative tests or procedures to think about
When and how you will get the results
Who to call after the test or procedure if you have questions or problems
How much you will have to pay for the test or procedure