Transplant services Heart, lung, kidney, liver & pancreas transplants
	Patient testimonials Real people with real success stories
	Historical highlights Our track record speaks for itself
	Be a living donor Live kidney donations can save lives
	About our team Some information on our team of experts
	Additional support Other ways we can help you
	Information for referring physicians Physicians, do you have a possible candidate for organ transplantation?
	Contact us Let us know what questions you have and how we can help you
	Return home Return to the Organ Transplant program home page

St. Luke's Lung Transplant Program

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

Pre-transplant phase

How long the patient waits for a lung transplant is based on various medical factors such as blood type, clinical status, length of time on the list and the type of lung transplant that is needed.

There are 3 main types of lung transplant:

Single Lung Transplant
Removal of one lung, which is replaced by a donor lung. For many people, a single lung transplant can provide 50% - 90% of normal lung function. Single lung transplant may be done for people with emphysema, pulmonary fibroids, or sarcoid, along with other diseases.

Double Lung Transplant
Removal of both lungs which are replaced by donor lungs from the same donor. A double lung transplant is usually done for people who have an infection in their lungs. It can be difficult to find two healthy lungs from a single donor, often forcing double lung transplant candidates to wait longer for donor lungs.

Heart-Lung Transplant
Removal of the heart and both lungs in a single operation with a heart and both lungs provided by the same donor. A patient requiring a heart-lung transplant may have to wait longer then a standard lung transplant patient because of the difficulty in finding a healthy heart and lungs from a single donor.

Pre-transplant candidates are treated by the transplant team to keep them as healthy as possible while awaiting transplantation. They are regularly scheduled for visits with their transplant physician and transplant nurse coordinator to monitor their health status and to receive the emotional and practical support that often is needed during the difficult waiting period.

The wait for a matching lung can vary from a few days to a few years. As patients move to the top of the UNOS list, they are provided with an electronic pager and specific instructions to prepare for their surgery.

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

Copyright Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit health care provider serving Wisconsin.
3000 W. Montana St., Milwaukee, WI 53215, (414) 647-3000
Disclaimer | Privacy notice | Contact us
.