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Lung Transplant Care at Mayo Clinic

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Find a path forward when breathing gets harder.
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments
Request an evaluation
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/content/mayoclinic-eds/us/en/care/lung-transplant/plan-for-care
Prepare for care
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If your lung disease is getting worse, you might be wondering whether a lung transplant could be an option. You don’t need to know before you reach out.

At Mayo Clinic, experienced lung transplant specialists work together to understand your health and help you explore what’s possible. From evaluation through transplant and recovery, your team explains your options, coordinates your care, and helps you understand what comes next.

Get personalized care for your complex disease.

https://www.youtube.com.mcas.ms/watch?v=O8cUduLI1J0
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Watch: How Mayo Clinic approaches lung transplants.
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When it comes to a transplant, there are lot of factors to consider. Your team works in coordination to look at your disease and life. Then they work with you to guide care before, during, and after.
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Dr. D'Cuhna (00:03):

Breathing is a fundamental thing we do 16 to 20 times a minute. We don't even think about it. And there are people out there who have to think about, "Should I talk or should I breathe?"

Dr. Kennedy (00:12):

When people are considering lung transplant, they wonder what would be the best transplant center for them. Mayo Clinic is one of the leading facilities in the country for the diagnosis and treatment of lung disease.

Dr. D'Cuhna (00:26):

The difference maker at Mayo Clinic is the interdisciplinary care that we provide. And the time you walk in the door, you're part of a care team who all come together and take care of your complex disease seamlessly and in a coordinated fashion.

Dr. Baz (00:39):

We're always thinking not only of the disease, but of the person and family behind the disease. And we're trying to be holistic in our approach.

Dr. Kennedy (00:46):

Patients understand we are tailoring our care to them as an individual as we are getting the results from the testing. We're explaining how that testing result might affect both their ability to go through transplant and the success of their transplant.

Dr. D'Cuhna (01:01):

And it's very important that we as medical providers, physicians, surgeons, understand where they're at in their journey, tailor and personalize our care to alleviate their anxiety.

Dr. Baz (01:12):

The patient can trust that the issue at hand is looked at 360 from all different avenues.

Dr. Kennedy (01:19):

They don't have one pulmonologist. They have a team of pulmonologists who are meeting every week to hear updates on their case. Regardless of when they get sick or when they get a transplant offer and who's on call, that team is gonna know them, know their case, and be ready to step in and take care of them. It's never one provider's decision of you are a candidate, you're not a candidate. The whole committee decides and weighs whether transplant is in your best interest.

Dr. Baz (01:48):

One of the things that makes Mayo Clinic different is that there's three sites. Every month we get to discuss cases among the three centers and come up with the best idea. It's what I call cross-pollination that always makes us better. We

Dr. Kennedy (02:00):

Have a team of people in the transplant center that goes about scheduling things as efficiently as possible so that patients aren't spending an inordinate amount of time away from home.

Dr. D'Cuhna (02:11):

The patient experience at Mayo Clinic is unparalleled. When someone comes with a complex disease or complex problem, you're gonna get the best possible individualized care to provide you that hope that you need.

Female physician speaking to patient and caregiver.

An evaluation can help clarify your next step.

During a lung transplant evaluation, your team looks at your lung disease, overall health, previous treatment, and other factors that can affect your options. You’ll also get a chance to ask questions, understand what Mayo Clinic recommends for your situation, and decide what feels right for you.

I always knew the needs of the patient come first at Mayo ... From the person who greets you at the door to the surgeon who did my transplant, everyone has incredible compassion for patients.
Tim Fairclough
Lung Transplant Recipient

Experience built over decades.

Mayo Clinic provides lung transplant care in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota, bringing decades of experience to people with advanced lung disease and complex transplant needs. That experience includes single- and double-lung transplants, heart-lung transplants and other complex transplant procedures.

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1,000+
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Lung transplants at the Florida campus since 2001
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~600
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Lung transplants at the Minnesota campus since 1990
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60
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Heart-lung transplants across Mayo Clinic

Your lung transplant journey at Mayo Clinic.

Every lung transplant journey is different. These steps give you a general idea of what to expect, but your path will depend on your personal health and care needs. Your Mayo Clinic team will guide you through each step that applies to you.

Referral or appointment request.
Your journey starts when you request an evaluation or your healthcare professional refers you. Mayo Clinic reviews your information and helps determine the right next step.
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Start with referrals and second opinions
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Evaluations and specialist visits.
Your evaluation builds on your health history, recent testing, and goals. You’ll complete needed tests and meet with transplant specialists who can help clarify your options.
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See what happens during evaluation
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Eligibility and readiness.
Your transplant team reviews your evaluation to decide whether lung transplant is a safe and appropriate option. They also talk with you about benefits, risks, and the lifelong commitment transplant requires.
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Explore eligibility and readiness
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Support, finances, and logistics.
Transplant planning includes more than medical care. Your Mayo Clinic team helps you think through caregiver support, insurance, financial questions, travel, housing, and other practical needs.
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Plan for costs, travel, and support
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Getting ready before surgery.
Before transplant, your team helps you stay as healthy and strong as possible. Your plan focuses on what needs attention now, including health concerns that could affect surgery or recovery.
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Explore pre-transplant care
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Approval, waiting list, and donor matching.
If transplant is approved and you choose to move forward, your name may be placed on the national waiting list. Your team explains how donor lungs are matched, how to stay ready, and what happens when a possible match becomes available.
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Understand the waiting list and donor matching
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Early recovery at Mayo Clinic.
After surgery, you’ll recover in the transplant ICU before moving to a regular hospital room as your condition improves. Your team closely monitors your new lung or lungs, helps you begin rehabilitation, and prepares you and your caregiver for care after discharge.
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Learn what recovery involves
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Monitoring after discharge.
Follow-up continues after you leave the hospital. Your plan may include visits at Mayo Clinic, care closer to home, virtual communication, and remote monitoring. Your transplant team stays involved and adjusts your care as your recovery and health needs change.
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Stay connected after discharge
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Why choose Mayo Clinic for lung transplant?

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Care for complex needs.
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Advanced lung disease can come with complex challenges. Mayo Clinic's transplant team has experience evaluating and caring for people with serious conditions or complex health needs.
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Conditions we treat
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A team focused on you.
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Lung transplant care often involves many specialties. At Mayo Clinic, experts across specialties work together to evaluate your needs, coordinate your care, and help you understand the path ahead.
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Meet your care team
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Beyond the numbers.
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Transplant outcomes can help you compare programs and make informed decisions. See Mayo Clinic’s results, how they compare with national benchmarks, and what they may mean for your care.
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See our results
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Recognized expertise in advanced lung disease care.

Mayo Clinic’s expertise extends across many serious and complex lung diseases. Our programs are recognized by national organizations for specialized care in conditions such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.

Lung transplant research and innovation, in practice.

At Mayo Clinic, our scientists, doctors, and surgeons study ways to improve lung transplant care and regularly bring new approaches to patients. Our work includes clinical trials, regenerative medicine and cell therapies, ways to improve recovery and long-term care, and innovations such as EVLP that help us evaluate more donor lungs.

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Caregiver support is part of the plan.

As a caregiver, you’ll be an important part of your loved one’s care before, during, and after transplant. The Mayo Clinic transplant team will help you understand what to expect, how you can provide support, and where to turn when you have questions of your own.

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Explore patient and family support
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