Lung Transplant

Lung transplantation is a procedure for end-stage lung disease to replace a diseased organ with a healthier one from a deceased organ donor. It is an option used to improve the health and prolong survival of patients. Lung transplant can benefit patients with diseases such as cystic fibrosis, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), pulmonary arterial hypertension, autoimmune-related advanced lung disease, sarcoidosis, and silicosis. Patients must be referred by their local pulmonologist and their records reviewed. Once accepted for potential transplant, patients are extensively evaluated in a clinic visit. If they qualify, they are listed for transplant and seen in clinic every three months. Transplant surgery generally lasts 4 to 12 hours, followed by 8 to 24 hours of stabilization in an intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital. Recovery will be in the Heart and Lung Transplant ICU (HTICU). When well enough, patients are discharged to local housing for several weeks for outpatient follow-up care. 

UAB is one of about 65 active lung transplantation centers in the United States, and is among the 10 busiest centers in the nation. Internationally known as one of America’s top transplant centers, UAB has performed more than 15,000 organ transplants since 1968, and we are widely recognized for our outstanding patient outcomes, dedication to patient care, and pioneering achievements in lung transplantation.

Videos

Resources

• Lung Transplant – Patient Resources
• Transplant Recovery at Hilton Birmingham at UAB
• Preparing for Your Lung Transplant
• Comprehensive Transplant Institute
• Division of Transplantation Surgery
• Lung Transplant
• Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine

Related Specialties

• Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Smoking Cessation