If your lung function is very low (determined by a pulmonary function test) and your primary physician or pulmonologist thinks no other medical or surgical therapy will help you, he or she may refer you for lung transplant evaluation. Your medical records will be sent to us to review.
Lung transplant evaluation is done on an outpatient or inpatient basis, and includes members of our multidisciplinary transplant team. During this visit, you will be examined and counseled about what we think is the best plan for your care.
The realities of having and living with a lung transplant will be explained and discussed, and we will provide a chance for you and your family to ask questions and learn as much as possible about transplantation.
Lung Transplant Program
Becoming a Patient
Lung Transplant Evaluation
Pre-Lung Transplant Testing
Testing begins with a complete medical history and physical exam. Many different tests will be done during the evaluation to determine the condition of your lungs and if there are other physical problems, which might rule out lung transplant. The following tests and procedures may be done:
- VQ scan (ventilation/perfusion lung scan)
- Chest X-ray (CXR)
- Chest CT (computed tomography)
- EKG (electrocardiogram)
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Bone density scan
- Pulmonary function test (PFT)
- Echocardiogra
- Heart catheterization
- Psychological evaluation
Highlights