Information for Lung Recipients

• Lung Transplant Decisions
  The decision to receive a transplant is a major one and should not be made without a great deal of thought for several reasons. First, transplantation is a major surgical procedure which involves some degree of risk.

• Choosing a Transplant Center
  There are more than 260 transplant centers in the U.S. These centers are fully accredited and must meet a variety of stringent professional standards.

• Evaluation Period
  You will be seen as an outpatient or possibly be admitted to USC University Hospital for an evaluation because your doctor feels that transplantation might be beneficial to you. The purpose of our evaluation is to determine whether transplantation would be your best option.

• How A Patient is Evaluated for a Lung Transplant at USC
  Chart that describes the evaluation process.

• Waiting Period
  Waiting for a suitable donor to become available may take one week to a couple of years. This time has been described by many patients and their families as the most difficult part of the transplant process.

• Preparing for Surgery
  Even though the waiting period can be long and you have lots of time to anticipate surgery, most patients say they are never fully prepared when the day really comes.

• Resources for Transplant Recipients
  Information and Support, addresses and other contact information.