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Lung Transplant
A lung transplant may be recommended for patients with severe lung disease such as:
· permanent enlargement of air sacs (alveoli) with loss of ability to completely exhale (emphysema)
· hereditary lung blockages (cystic fibrosis)
· long-term (chronic) infections (sarcoidosis)
· permanent scarring and thickening of lung tissue (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
The first step in a lung transplant procedure is to make an incision through the breast bone (sternum). One or two donor lungs are used to perform the lung transplant, depending on the disease process being treated.
Tubes are used to re-route the blood to a heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood oxygenated and circulating during the surgery.
The last step in a lung transplant is to remove the patient's lungs and stitch the donor lungs into place. Drainage tubes (chest tubes) are inserted to drain air, fluid, and blood out of the chest for several days to allow the lungs to fully re-expand.
Patients will require immunosuppressive medications for the rest of their lives to prevent immune rejection. Lung transplant results vary depending on the disease being treated and the experience of the center performing the surgery.
Learn more about lung transplants and additional General Surgery procedures at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. One of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers, WFUBMC is an integrated health care system that operates 1,291 acute care, rehabilitation and long-term care beds, outpatient services, and community health and information centers. The Medical Center's component institutions carry out a joint mission of patient care, education, research and community service. The partnership includes three major members: Wake Forest University Health Sciences, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, and Wake Forest University Physicians.
Copyright: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
and North Carolina Baptist Hospital. All rights reserved.
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
(336) 716-2011 |
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