Medications are no longer effective for controlling the disease. Even devices that help the patient breathe are insufficient. The diseased organ is removed and replaced with a lung transplant (LT). The challenge is finding a suitable donor.
Recipients are placed on a waiting list in anticipation of receiving a healthy lung that will preserve their life. Given their short life expectancy, it is a race against time.
In this article, we’ll explain the process of applying for and being accepted onto the recipient waiting list. Applying And Getting Accepted
If both are true, your doctor can recommend you for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network’s (OPTN) list. Not all hospitals perform lung transplants. The operations are typically done in large medical facilities that support a complete transplant staff, including a thoracic surgeon, cardiologist, and pulmonologist. Waiting For A Suitable Organ
Once you have undergone the screening process and been accepted to a given facility’s program, the transplant staff will help prepare you for receiving a new organ. This is done prior to a donor organ becoming available. The Frustration Of Waiting
Because there is no established date at which a lung transplant will become available, waiting can be frustrating. Each week that passes brings added concern that your lung disease will overwhelm you before a donor emerges. Unless your doctor instructs you otherwise, continue taking your medications as prescribed. If you smoke, quit. Modify your diet and exercise routine to dovetail with your doctor’s recommendations. If he or she has suggested breathing exercises, perform them.
Time is critical. Reacting quickly can dramatically improve your chances of successfully receiving the lung transplant. Pack a suitcase and establish a way for the medical center’s staff to contact you immediately if they expect to receive a replacement organ.
When you finally receive the call that a donor lung has become available, visit the transplant center.
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