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Lung Transplant FAQs

Exceptional Outcomes for Lung Transplant Patients

Providing patients with advanced lung disease the highest quality of care to improve and extend their lives.

The highest level of integrated, multidisciplinary care is offered to advanced lung disease and respiratory failure patients who are in need of a lung transplant. Our transplant pulmonology and surgery care teams are known for taking on the most challenging cases and delivering specialized, advanced treatment. Our lung transplant team, including our subspecialists who are experts in a variety of health conditions, are ready to help you.

Why Loyola

Since Loyola’s lung transplant program started in 1988, we have performed more than 1,000 lung and heart-lung transplants. Our renowned transplant pulmonologists and surgeons are highly experienced in treating the most rare and challenging cases. In fact, Loyola is the only transplant center in the United States to perform five lung transplants in the span of a day, showcasing the dedication, drive and talent of our team. Other achievements include:

Performed the first simultaneous double-lung and kidney transplant in Illinois.
The only center in Illinois to perform five lung transplants in just over 24 hours.
Performed the fastest lung transplant in Illinois in which the patient went home with a new lung just 11 days after going on the waiting list.

Loyola Medicine's Lung Transplant Program milestone stats

Innovative and Advanced Technology

Whether you need a heart-lung, double-lung or single-lung transplant, Loyola’s highly skilled transplant team will provide personalized and advanced care, utilizing the latest technology, such as Paragonix Lung Guard and TransMedics. We also use innovative surgical approaches, including a unique 2-inch incision technique rather than the traditional “clamshell” incision, which typically spans from armpit to armpit across the chest. This smaller incision may reduce overall operating time and the duration spent on heart-lung bypass (ECMO), while also promoting faster healing and lowering the risk of complications or scarring at the incision site.

Loyola’s pulmonology and lung surgery program is recognized among the best in the country by U.S. News & World Report. Our transplant team takes on the most complicated cases; if you’ve been turned down by another transplant center, consider getting a second opinion at Loyola. People aren't numbers, but rather individuals who are diverse and valued. Loyola values personalized care that meets the needs of every patient.

Dedicated to Lung Transplantation

The experienced Lung transplant team at Loyola is dedicated to caring for patients with advanced lung disease. Our multi-disciplinary team provides a personalized and comprehensive approach to your unique health condition. This allows our team to determine if lung transplantation is the best treatment for you. Transplant evaluation can be an overwhelming process. At Loyola, you will have an entire team on your side:

Transplant pulmonologist
Transplant cardiothoracic surgeon
Psychologists
Pre- and post-transplant nurse coordinators
Nurse practitioners
Procurement nurses
Chaplains
Physical therapists
Dietitians
Financial coordinators
Clinical pharmacists
Social workers

We have one goal: restoring you to better health.

Pre- and Post-Lung Transplant Care in Your Community

Loyola understands that receiving care close to home makes life easier, which is why we provide lung transplant care through our specialized transplant clinics located within four of our outpatient sites. These convenient locations offer both pre- and post-transplant services, allowing patients to receive routine and follow-up care without the need to travel into the city. Our community-based clinics are designed to support patients throughout their transplant journey, close to where they live.

Loyola Medicine Oakbrook Terrace
Loyola Jack Felts Hepatology Clinic in Peoria
Loyola Outpatient Center
Loyola Medicine Tinley Park

Services available at these centers vary and may include:

Care for patients with pulmonary hypertension
Care for recently discharged patients
Care for pediatric patients
Diagnostic services, such as MRIs, X-rays, sonograms, non-invasive echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, ultrasounds and diagnostic angiograms
New patient, wait list, and established patient visits
Walk-in patients/sick visits

What Lung Diseases are Treated with Transplant?

Loyola’s pulmonologists and transplant surgeons are specialized in all forms of lung disease. Your health care team is here to create a partnership and explore the best possible treatments for you and your condition.

Advanced lung diseases that may require a lung transplant include:

Interstitial Lung Disease(ILD)
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)
- Autoimmune ILD
- Sarcoidosis
- Environmental Exposure
Emphysema/Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Pulmonary hypertension
Bronchiectasis
Obliterative bronchiolitis
Rare Lung Disease
- Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)
- Birt-Hogg-Dubet(BHD)
- Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome (HPS)
COVID-19

Loyola Medicine Welcomes Patients Seeking Second Opinions

When a patient seeks a second opinion, they're looking for a fresh interpretation of a given diagnosis or treatment plan from a different doctor.

Getting a second opinion is a normal part of finding treatment and can increase your confidence in your diagnosis and treatment plans. It also ensures you choose a physician you have a comfortable rapport with. New clinical trials or treatments may also only be performed by certain physicians.

Loyola's specialist offices are located throughout Chicago’s western and southwestern suburbs and are open for second opinion consultations.

Ongoing Clinical Trials to Advance Lung Transplant Research

Loyola’s lung transplant program is the only one in the state of Illinois to receive funding from the National Institutes of Health for lung transplant research.

Loyola was one of six centers in the United States that participated in a clinical trial that used a technology called Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) remotely. This innovative technique is applied before transplantation, infusing nutrients into the lungs and reducing swelling, making the organ more suitable for transplant.

The success of this trial contributes to the argument that a central location for such technology is feasible and effective, eliminating the need for individual hospitals to have an EVLP machine on-site.

We have many research programs underway. If you're interested in learning more, ask our transplant team about clinical trials.

Our Team

At Loyola Medicine, our team specializes in caring for individuals with end-stage lung disease who may be candidates for lung transplantation. When your pulmonologist determines that a transplant offers the best path forward, you’ll undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure you are medically ready for surgery and the long-term treatment it requires.

If you are approved for transplant, you’ll be connected with your dedicated lung transplant team. This multidisciplinary group of specialists will be by your side from evaluation through recovery, offering expert guidance and personalized care every step of the way.

While you wait for a donor lung, your care team will work with you to maintain your health and prepare your body for surgery. This may include following a tailored treatment plan, managing medications, staying physically active, attending routine appointments, and receiving nutritional and respiratory therapy support.

Multidisciplinary Experts in Lung Transplant Surgery and Recovery

Your Loyola Lung transplant team includes the following expert clinicians who will support you in all aspects of your transplant care and recovery:

Transplant Pulmonologist: Your transplant pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in advanced lung disease and lung transplantation. Your transplant pulmonologist will assess your disease and its progression. If determined, transplant evaluation is an option for you, the transplant pulmonologist will conduct a lung transplant evaluation. Your doctor will determine if you are a candidate for lung transplant surgery and will help keep you in the best of health while you wait for a lung transplant. Your doctor will also oversee your care post-transplantation to make sure you and your new lung(s) are healthy.
Transplant cardiothoracic surgeon: Your surgeon is the specialist who will perform your lung transplant surgery. When you meet your transplant surgeon during your evaluation, we encourage you to ask any questions you have about the procedure. You will see your surgeon mostly during your hospital stay.
Pre-transplant and post-transplant coordinators: Your nurse coordinators play a central role in your care and are experts in transplant patient care. They are registered nurses who will arrange the tests included in your evaluation while you wait for an organ donation. Our nurse coordinators have extensive experience with chronic diseases and will instruct you on all aspects of transplant surgery, including immunosuppressive drugs, psychosocial assessment, financial issues, coping skills and your transplant risks and benefits. Your coordinators also will make arrangements for your surgery and hospital stay. After your transplant surgery, your coordinators will help you with your hospital discharge and set up any needed lab tests and follow-up appointments.
Nurse practitioners: Loyola’s nurse practitioners work collaboratively with your doctors to prescribe medications, diagnose conditions and develop treatment plans. They also will make sure that you understand every step in the transplant process. In addition, our nurse practitioners are adept at recognizing the signs of rejection and infection.
Physical therapist: Loyola’s physical therapists provide evaluations, rehabilitation and treatment for our transplant patients. The goals in physical therapy are to assist you in achieving an optimal level of independence and function and to promote your health and rehabilitation. You have been coping with your illness for some time, which has left you in a weakened state; your physical therapist will help you recover your strength and movement.
Procurement nurse: As part of the transplant team at Loyola, procurement nurse coordinators are closely involved in the complicated and detailed process of coordinating your transplant. Our procurement coordinators are on call every day of the year to help facilitate organ donation and transplant surgery. Procurement coordinators not only assist you with the transplant evaluation and testing, but also serve as key facilitators for listing and maintaining the appropriate status on the transplant waiting list.
Psychologist: The transplant process can be an emotionally difficult time for patients and their families. Often patients are confused about the rationale for seeing a psychologist during the workup for a medical procedure. Research has shown that prior history of mood problems, substance abuse, lack of social support and noncompliance are associated with poor medical outcomes after surgery. Psychologists can help to identify and address these issues prior to transplant surgery to help improve outcomes. Your transplant psychologist’s main role is to conduct an initial psychosocial evaluation and provide supportive follow-up throughout the waiting, recovery and rehabilitative phases of transplant.
Chaplain: Loyola’s transplant chaplains are essential members of your healthcare team. Just as Loyola’s doctors and nurses specialize in the treatment of transplant patients, our chaplains’ experience is specific to the Transplant Center. They understand the emotional, spiritual and physical needs that are particular to our transplant patients. Loyola’s chaplains also can contact your church, parish, synagogue, mosque or house of worship to arrange a visit with your faith leader.
Clinical pharmacist: Your clinical pharmacist will provide you with instructions on the medications that you will take after your transplant. Your clinical pharmacist will evaluate the drugs you are prescribed and monitor any side effects you may experience. In addition, your pharmacist will be on the watch for any possible negative drug interactions. As a key member of your medical team, your pharmacist will monitor and adjust your anti-rejection medication if necessary.
Dietitian: Your transplant dietitian’s role is to help you reach your nutrition goals. At your first appointment, your dietitian will assess your nutrition habits, look into any possible vitamin and mineral deficiencies, conduct a nutrition and weight history, assess any need for weight loss and talk about possible dietary restrictions. With this information, your dietitian will develop a nutritional plan to help you be as healthy as possible for your transplant surgery.
Financial coordinator: We know that the thought of a transplant can be overwhelming, not just emotionally, but financially as well. Loyola’s financial coordinators are well-versed in insurance protocols and will do the heavy lifting for you. Your coordinator will find out whether your insurance covers procedures at Loyola and connect you with an insurance case manager. In addition, financial coordinators work with your nurses and insurance case manager to make sure that your insurance has approved you for a transplant and pre-certified you for hospital admission.
Social worker: Loyola’s transplant social workers are involved in all aspects of the transplant process. They are skilled in psychosocial assessments and provide a wide range of services for patients and their families, including patient and family counseling, patient education, financial resources and support groups. Social workers see patients in the hospital, outpatient clinics and are available for phone consultations.

If you would like to make an appointment or need assistance in finding the appropriate doctor, please call us today.

Transplant Types

What Is Lung Transplant Surgery?

A lung transplant is surgery to remove one or both damaged or diseased lungs and replace them with healthy donor lungs. Preparation for a lung transplant is an extensive process and includes a detailed evaluation, a search for donor lungs, the transplant surgery and a recovery period.

Lung transplant surgery may be a life-saving treatment for individuals with end-stage lung failure or lung diseases. It is an extensive surgery most often used when other medications and surgical procedures do not work to treat your condition. A lung transplant is surgery to remove one or both damaged or diseased lungs and replace them with healthy donor lungs. Preparation for a lung transplant is an extensive process and includes a detailed evaluation, a search for donor lungs, the transplant surgery and a recovery period.

What are the Different Types of Lung Transplants?

Lung transplant patients can benefit from three types of transplants:

Single-lung transplant: One diseased or damaged lung is removed and replaced with a healthy donated lung. This surgery is beneficial for patients with pulmonary fibrosis, among other diseases. However, it is not used as a treatment for patients with cystic fibrosis, because the condition will spread from the diseased lung to the donated lung.
Double-lung transplant: Both damaged or diseased lungs are removed and replaced with a healthy set of donated lungs. This is considered the optimal treatment for patients with cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Heart-lung transplant: The damaged or diseased heart and lungs are removed and replaced with a healthy donated heart and a set of lungs. This is often the recommended therapy for people with severe pulmonary hypertension.
Retransplantation: Loyola’s lung transplant program offers consultations and evaluations for lung re-transplantation. Re-transplantation is needed if a lung transplant recipient's donor lungs are experiencing chronic rejection (also known as CLAD).

What to Expect

Evaluation and Wait List for Lung Transplants

Your Loyola lung transplant team will guide you through your journey through the lung transplant evaluation process. During your initial consultation the lung transplant physicians will complete a through evaluation of your existing lung disease to evaluate that a lung transplant evaluation is the right next steps. Once that is determined, our evaluation coordinators will meet with you to walk through the evaluation process. Blood work, diagnostic tests, and consultations from other medical services will be ordered so that the lung transplant team can create a holistic picture of your current health and well-being. Our evaluation coordinators will communicate with you every step of the way.

Once the evaluation is completed our multi-disciplinary team will meet to review all medical treatments and options for you and determine whether you are a good candidate for lung transplant.

If lung transplant is the best treatment for your lung disease, you will be placed on the national waiting list with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). The wait time for deceased-donor organs depends on many factors, including medical urgency, compatibility to the donor and geography (organs are matched within the same region whenever possible).

Waiting for organs to become available brings a lot of worry and concern by the patient and their caregiver. There are also a lot questions about life after transplant. We encourage patients and their families to participate in our lung transplant support group, which is designed to assist in providing resources, tools, and encouragement to those affected during this stressful time.

Lung Transplant Surgery

Once an organ becomes available, you will receive a phone call with the organ offer and your set time to come to the hospital for your admission. The lung transplant procurement team will prepare you for your transplant. Once in the operating room the team will prepare you for transplantation and put you to asleep using general anesthesia.

Most lung transplant surgeries are completed without the use of the heart-lung bypass machine, which can spare post-transplant patients from certain complications. Lung transplant surgery usually lasts four to six hours.

During the surgery, your surgeon will remove the diseased lung or lungs and position the donated tissue. Your surgeon will connect the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein and the airway of the donor lung or lungs to your blood vessels and airway. Tubes to drain fluid, blood and air will be inserted and will remain for several days after surgery.

Life after Lung Transplant

Lung transplantation is a major open chest surgery, and recovery time may vary. Patients will come directly out of the operating room and recover in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, located next to the operating room.

As the patient progresses, they will transition out of the intensive care unit to our cardiothoracic step-down unit. Members of our multi-disciplinary team will be working with the patient and caregivers to prepare everyone for a successful discharge from the hospital.

Our multi-disciplinary care team will work with the patient and family with any roadblocks that may come across while preparing for discharge, such as:

Learning how to care for your new lung(s)
Learning how to manage your medication
Tips to prevent rejection of the new lung(s)
How to prevent infection
Rehabilitation needs that promote a healthy lifestyle and create the pathway to full recovery

We encourage you and your family members to participate in our lung transplant support group, throughout the entire transplant journey.

FAQ

Common Questions about Lung Transplants

If your Loyola pulmonologist or cardiothoracic surgeon has recommended a lung transplant as your best medical option, we understand that you will have many questions. Loyola Medicine is known for taking on the most challenging cases. If you’ve been turned down by another transplant center, consider getting a second opinion at Loyola.

We expect that you have many concerns about your transplant surgery. You may be interested in reviewing the answers to the most frequently asked questions about lung transplant surgery. We are also available to answer your questions at your appointment times or by phone.

Common Questions Before Lung Transplant Surgery

How can I become a donor or encourage a friend to become a donor?

Loyola Medicine has partnered with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network as part of the Hospitals for Hope campaign. You can register to become an organ and tissue donor on the Gift of Hope's website. Your decision can make an impact that will save and enhance countless lives.

How long should I expect to wait for my transplant?

At Loyola, 50 percent of patients receive a lung transplant eight months after being placed on the national waiting list. Your Loyola transplant team will continue to manage your condition and keep you healthy until you receive your transplant.

Who pays for the operation?

Insurance, whether private, Medicare or Medicaid, will pay for your evaluation and surgery. Please contact your insurance company for specific levels of coverage.

How can I find out if I need a lung transplant?

Talk to your doctor to see if a lung transplant is right for you. You can call our pulmonary transplant clinic and a transplant nurse will answer your questions.

How do I know if I qualify for a lung, heart-lung or double-lung transplant?

Although you may have been told you need a transplant, several tests must be done to evaluate your overall health, including how your heart, lungs and kidneys are functioning. After your tests are completed, a pulmonary transplant specialist will review your results and propose the best treatment for you.

What does a lung, heart-lung or double-lung transplant evaluation involve?

Once patients are identified as potential transplant candidates, they undergo several days of tests and consults. The lung transplant team will then review and discuss the results to determine if the patient should be recommended for transplant surgery. A medical team also will determine at that time whether the patient requires a single-lung, double-lung or heart-lung transplant surgery. Testing may include blood tests, urine test, chest X-ray, pulmonary function test and CT scan, to name a few.

What is the age limit for a lung, double-lung or heart-lung transplant?

Lung transplants are routinely performed for patients of all ages. At Loyola, we perform adult and young adult lung transplants. A patient will not be denied a transplant based on age alone.

What does it mean to be on the “waiting list” for a lung, double-lung or heart-lung transplant?

Once the decision has been made to move forward with a transplant, your name will be placed on the national waiting list with the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS. You can visit their website for research and educational articles on transplant surgery.

What should I be doing while I wait for a donor?

Waiting for a donor organ can be a stressful experience, especially because your wait time is unknown. During this time, there are important steps that transplant candidates can take to ensure they are ready for surgery when the important call comes:

Take care of your health. Try to stay as healthy as possible and take your medicines as instructed. Notify your transplant coordinator if any additional medicines are prescribed or altered, or if you are hospitalized for any reason.
Keep your scheduled appointments with your doctors. Until your transplant, you will need to meet with members of the transplant team to routinely evaluate your overall health, which may include periodic blood tests.
Participate in support groups. Ask your social worker about support groups and other resources, so you'll have access to more information and can talk with other transplant candidates.
Follow weight control and exercise guidelines. Weight management is very important while waiting for your transplant surgery. Loyola’s dietitians and physical therapists will work with you to develop a diet and exercise program that will give you the greatest benefit before and after transplant surgery.
Occupy yourself by staying involved. Spend time doing what you enjoy and stay as active as your physical condition will permit. Keep up with your work, studies and leisure activities, or start a project or hobby that can help distract you and make time pass more quickly.
Maintain contact with family and friends. Good company will take your mind off waiting and enrich your life.
Just relax and reduce stress. Reading or listening to music or relaxation tapes can be helpful in taking your mind off your transplant surgery and avoiding negative thoughts.
Make sure you are available. Your transplant team MUST know how to get in touch with you at all times. Pagers, cell phones or remote answering machines may be required. Your transplant coordinator may recommend that you stay within a certain geographic range.
Be prepared with transportation. When you are placed on the organ waiting list, your first responsibility is to plan how you will get to the Transplant Center when are notified that a match is available. Prepare yourself for this call by making the necessary arrangements for transportation well in advance.
Pack your bags in advance. You'll need to be ready to leave as soon as you get the call that the transplant surgery may be imminent. Be sure to pack your insurance information, an extra 24-hour supply of medication and all other necessities.

What tests may be required before my surgery?

Periodic testing must be done to monitor your health while you wait for an organ to become available.

Where do I go for transplant surgery?

When called in for transplant surgery, the nurse will give you instructions on when to come to the hospital and where to go.

How long is transplant surgery?

The surgery can take from three to four hours for a single-lung transplant and six to 12 hours for a double-lung transplant. Surgical time can vary from patient to patient based on the complexity of the operation.

Common Questions after Lung Transplant Surgery

What are visiting hours?

Visiting hours are set to allow you the time to recover after your surgery. Visiting hours for most hospital patients are from 9 am to 9 pm.

What can I expect during my hospital stay?

After your transplant surgery, you will be taken to the intensive care unit where you will be closely monitored. You will remain on a ventilator for about 24 hours. You will have many tubes and drains in place, including several intravenous catheters (IV), a urinary catheter, a stomach drainage tube and chest tubes.

When your medical condition has stabilized, you will be placed on a portable cardiac monitor. Most patients stay in the hospital for about 15 days. The length of your hospital stay will depend on the severity of your illness before the transplant surgery and complications after surgery. If you are very weak, you may need rehabilitation.

What type of pain control will I have?

Your level of pain will be carefully monitored and controlled with medicine administered through your IV. When you start eating again, the pain medication will be given as pills or tablets.

Are there external stitches that need to be removed?

Your incision will be closed with small adhesive bandages. As your wound heals, these bandages will fall off.

Will I have a breathing tube in after my surgery?

Following your transplant surgery, you will be on a breathing machine. The tube will be removed as soon as your doctor determines you are well enough to breathe on your own.

How long will I need to stay in the hospital?

The average length of stay following lung transplant surgery is 15 days, but each patient’s case is unique.

What procedures must I follow after my transplant surgery?

Following transplant surgery, you will have several follow-up appointments. Lung transplant requires periodic blood work, radiology testing, pulmonary function testing and bronchoscopy. Heart transplant also requires periodic blood work and radiology testing, as well as echocardiograms and endomyocardial biopsies. These tests monitor how well your new organ or organs are functioning.

How long will I have to take anti-rejection medications?

You will have to take these medications for as long as you have a transplanted organ. The anti-rejection medications are extremely important and must be taken every day, preferably at the same time, to prevent rejection. Taking your medications is one of the most important things you need to do after your transplant surgery.

What activities can I do at home?

Before discharge from the hospital, you will be given a personalized exercise plan and activities to avoid while healing from surgery.

Will I have any restrictions?

There are many restrictions that you must follow immediately after surgery while you are healing. You also will be instructed on restrictions that need to be followed to protect you and your new organ or organs from infection and rejection.

When can I return to work?

The goal of transplant surgery is to allow you to return to former activities, including work. It usually takes about six weeks to recover from surgery. Work clearance is given on an individual basis.

What follow-up appointments will I have?

You will have several follow-up appointments after being discharged, including pulmonary, surgery and endocrine visits. You will receive a list of appointments before your discharge from the hospital.

Whom do I call if I have questions or problems after my transplant surgery?

You will be given a list of important phone numbers prior to discharge with instructions on whom and when to call.

What if I need rehabilitation after my surgery?

Rehabilitation is required following transplant surgery to increase strength and endurance. Rehabilitation can be performed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Your social worker will assist you in finding a facility close to your home. Learn more about pulmonary rehabilitation.

Will I need oxygen after surgery?

Sometimes people need oxygen following surgery. You will be evaluated by respiratory therapists to see if you need oxygen before discharge.