During the Lung Transplant Procedure
Lung transplantation requires a stay in a hospital. Procedures may
vary depending on your condition and your physician's practices.
Generally, a lung transplant follows this process:
- You will be asked to remove any jewelry and other objects that
may interfere with the procedure.
- You will be asked to
remove clothing and will be given a gown to wear.
- An
intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm or hand.
Additional catheters will be inserted in your neck and wrist to
monitor the status of your heart and blood pressure, as well as for
obtaining blood samples. Alternate sites for the additional
catheters include the subclavian (under the collarbone) area and the
groin.
- You will be taken to the operating room and positioned
on a table. Your position will depend on the type of procedure to be
performed. For a single lung transplant, you will be positioned on
the side opposite the side of the transplant. For a bilateral
sequential lung transplant, you will be lying on your back with your
arms above your head.
- A catheter will be inserted into your
bladder to drain urine.
- Lung transplant surgery will be
performed while you are asleep under general anesthesia. A tube will
be inserted through your mouth into your lungs. The tube will be
attached to a ventilator that will breathe for you during the
procedure.
- The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor
your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen level during the
surgery.
- The skin over the surgical site will be cleansed
with an antiseptic solution.
- The physician will make an
incision in the chest. For a single lung transplant, the incision
will be made on the side of the lung to be transplanted. For a
bilateral sequential transplant, the incision will be made
horizontally across the chest below the breasts or vertically in
between the breasts.
- The diseased lung(s) will be carefully
removed and replaced by the donor lung(s). Depending on your
underlying lung condition and the type of transplant being
performed, you may be placed on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine
(heart-lung machine) to maintain circulation and provide oxygen to
the body during the procedure.
- The new lung's blood vessels
and airways will be attached. For a bilateral sequential transplant,
the lungs will be attached one at a time.
- The incision will
be closed with sutures or surgical staples.
- A sterile
bandage/dressing will be applied to the incision.
- One or
more chest tubes will be placed in the chest to remove air, fluid,
and blood from the surgical site and to allow the new lung(s) to
expand fully.
- An epidural catheter to infuse pain
medication into your back may be inserted before you leave the
operating room.