Waiting for a Lung Transplant

Most patients wait for their lung transplant at home. During the waiting period, you may be enrolled in a pulmonary rehabilitation or physical therapy program. It is important to avoid infection and be in the best health possible before your transplant. You will need to eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Avoid smoking, second hand smoke, all tobacco replacement products, and alcohol use. You will undergo random blood and urine screening to look for these substances.

While on the waiting list, you will be expected to attend appointments with pulmonary rehab and your primary care doctor. You will also need to be seen in the transplant clinic every four to six weeks. It is very important that you keep all of your scheduled appointments.

You will also be expected to notify your transplant coordinator with any changes (see below).

Please notify us about: • Changes in your contact information including address, phone number, or emergency contacts

• Changes in your caregiver or social support system

• Changes in your insurance

• Plans to travel farther than two hours away from the hospital

• Any changes in your general health, even if they are unrelated to your lungs. This could include things like getting shingles or breaking a bone.

• Any changes in your condition including:

• A change in oxygen requirement

• Worsening shortness of breath

• If you require hospitalization for any reason. It is important for you, your caregiver, or the physician responsible for your care to call the Mount Sinai lung transplant team when you are hospitalized in a different institution. This will ensure that we remain updated on your current medical status and initiate any transfers to our center, if deemed necessary.

Inform your transplant coordinator of any important changes right away–especially a change in your health status.