Lung Transplantation Program

Pulmonary transplantation has become a viable treatment option for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. The USC Cardiopulmonary Transplant Team is composed of experts in the fields of cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, pulmonary medicine, immunology, critical care medicine, pediatrics, cystic fibrosis, perfusion medicine, immunosuppression, rehabilitation, and social/psychological services. Patients eligible for lung transplantation include those who are severely debilitated by cardiopulmonary disease, but do not have other organ system dysfunction. Candidates frequently have the diagnosis of obstructive lung disease (including emphysema, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis), pulmonary hypertension (both primary and secondary), or pulmonary fibrosis (including sarcoidosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and silicosis).

Lobar lung transplantation from a living relative is unique to our institution and provides an alternative therapy for severely ill patients who are unlikely to survive the waiting period that is often required for cadaveric organ transplantation. Since this is an experimental procedure, strict criteria must be met before a patient can qualify. Single cadaveric lung transplantation is available for patients up to the age of 65 years. Double lung transplantation is the procedure of choice for patients with suppurative lung disease and severe pulmonary hypertension. Candidates are frequently under 60 years of age in this group of patients. Combined heart-lung transplantation is reserved for relatively young patients with irreversible cardiac pulmonary disease.