St. Luke's Lung Transplant Program

Referral phase | Pre-transplant | Transplant | Discharge & follow-up | Resuming activity | FAQs | How UNOS works

In 2002 Aurora St. Luke's received lung transplant approval from the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and physicians performed their first lung transplant operation that year.

Referral phase

Upon referral to the Lung Transplant Program at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, a transplant coordinator will contact you to discuss the lung transplant process. During the referral phase of a lung transplant, the Transplant Clinic team will perform several diagnostic tests to help determine if a lung transplant is the right treatment for you. The testing insures that, other then your lungs, you are in good physical health and can undergo the transplant. These diagnostic tests may evaluate:

• your heart
• your kidneys and gallbladder
• your stomach, esophagus and intestines
• your bladder
• your teeth and gums
• your prostate if you are a man
• your breast and cervix if you are a woman

The patient and family also participate in interviews and consultations with other members of the transplant team to discuss all aspects of transplantation and how it will affect their life.

After obtaining the needed information, a multi-disciplinary selection committee meets to decide if transplantation is the best option. If the committee determines that the candidate is qualified, the patient is registered with the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), the national computerized list that matches transplant recipients with available organs.

To learn more, click here or call 414-646-5410.