What
are Loyola's survival rates for lung transplant?
Loyola's three-year survival rate for lung
transplant is 76 percent, whereas the expected survival
rate is 66 percent. This expected rate is based on comparisons
with centers nationwide that have a similar mix of patients
and donors.
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How
far will a patient travel to have a transplant performed
at Loyola?
Individuals from more than 12 different states
have traveled to Loyola for this life-extending oepration.
Loyola has performed more than 87 percent of the lung
transplants in the state of Illinois. In 2005, Loyola's
transplant team performed 38 lung transplants.
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What common conditions may
lead to the need for a lung transplant?
The most common conditions that may lead to
the need for a lung transplant are chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis,
cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension. A common
misperception is that patients with lung cancer have
lung transplant. In fact, the presence of cancer in
the body rules out candidacy for a transplant.
How
long will I have to wait for a new lung(s)?
Once
your name is placed on the national waiting list managed
by The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), you
will begin to accrue waiting time. Unfortunately, we
cannot predict how long you will wait for a donor lung(s).
The wait for an organ can range from several months
to years. The waiting time varies based on the following
factors:
- Blood
type of both the donor and recipient. Some blood types
are more rare than others. People with a rare blood
type may wait longer than those with a more common blood
type.
- Height
of both the donor and the recipient. A person's height
determines the approximate size of their lungs. Thus,
the donor and recipient's heights should be similar.
- Waiting
time of the potential recipient. Organs are offered
to those who have been on the waiting list the longest
amount of time, regardless of their current medical
condition.
- Your
medical condition. If you are critically ill at the
time a lung(s) become available for you, you may not
be transplanted.
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How
long will I be required to take transplant medications
after transplant?
For
a successful outcome after your transplant, transplant
medications and other medications will be prescribed.
These medications must be taken for the rest of your
life. Many of the medications are adjusted on an individual
basis. Any questions you have regarding your medications
should be discussed with your transplant team.
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May
I speak with other transplant recipients?
Loyola
University Medical Center has a Lung Transplant Patient
and Family Support Group biweekly, as well as a monthly
Multi-Organ Transplant Caregiver Support Group. Once
you have been listed for transplant at Loyola University
Medical Center, you will receive notices of the dates,
times and locations of these meetings. We encourage
attendance by both the patient and support persons.
At
these support group meetings, you will have an opportunity
to meet other transplant recipients and discuss transplant
related issues.
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Are
there other options other than lung transplant for the
treatment of my lung disease?
Many lung diseases can be effectively treated with
medications. If you have emphysema, Lung Volume Reduction
Surgery (LVRS) is a treatment option that may be available
to you.
LVRS
may be recommended once you completes an evaluation.
This evaluation will determine if you are a candidate.
For more information regarding this option, please call
(888) LUHS-888 and ask for the lung transplant team.
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If
I need two lungs, must they both come from the same
donor?
Yes, a double lung transplant will come from the same
donor. A patient in need may get one lung, two lungs
or a heart and lungs all from same donor. On occasion,
a patient may have a lung transplant and then need another
lung at a later time. That would obviously mean the
lungs were from two different donors.
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Which
activities must I avoid after lung transplant?
The risk of exposure to
parasites needs to be reduced. Lung transplant patients
need to avoid cat litter and changing any baby diapers.
They also should avoid puppies for several months after
transplant. Gardening poses a high risk to lung transplant
patients because of fungus that may be present in the
soil. Patients should not scuba dive. Swimming should
be avoided for a period of time following transplant.
A swimmer could accidently inhale water that could have
bacteria in it.
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