Caring for Your Transplanted Lungs

Due to the complexity of a lung transplant surgery, the procedure will require several hours and several weeks for a full recovery.

After the surgery, patients will recover in one of our hospitals' intensive care unit (ICU) before moving to a hospital room for one to three weeks. The patient’s doctor may recommend pulmonary rehabilitation afterward to help improve breathing capabilities. Pulmonary function tests will help doctors monitor a patient’s breathing and recovery as well. After leaving the hospital, patients will regularly visit their doctor to check for infection or rejection of the new lung, as well as to test the lung’s functionality.

To help prevent rejection, patients will need to take medicines for the rest of their life that suppress their immune system and help prevent their body from rejecting the new lungs. Practicing good hygiene, obtaining routine vaccines, and adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as heart-healthy eating and not smoking are very important for the success of a patient’s new lung.