Who is a Candidate?

Lung transplants may involve a single lung or two lungs. Generally speaking, candidates for lung transplantation are those patients:

• Who have end-stage pulmonary disease of any diagnosis
• Who have less than a two-year prognosis of survival
• Whose daily activities are severely limited and who require oxygen
• Who have a good potential for rehabilitation afterward.

Usually transplant patients have no other medical or surgical alternative other than transplantation. Currently, single lung transplantation is the most commonly performed procedure.

Most patients referred to The Transplant Center have critical conditions such as:

• Emphysema
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Alpha I anti-trypsin deficiency
• Primary pulmonary hypertension
• Cystic fibrosis
• Bronchiectasis.

Each patient who is listed for a lung transplant must complete the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at Frazier Rehab Center, adjacent to Jewish Hospital. This program provides education and rehab so patients are in the best physical condition as possible prior to transplant.