MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Heart-lung transplant

Skip navigation

Medical Encyclopedia

Heart-lung transplant - series: Procedure, part 2

Heart-lung transplant - seriesIllustrations:

Normal anatomy

Indications

Procedure, part 1

Procedure, part 2

The patient's heart and lungs are removed and the donor heart and lungs are stitched into place. A heart-lung transplant is performed only in patients who have a very good chance of success. The long-term outcome is variable, depending on the patient's overall health and disease progression. Most patients should expect to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time. It generally takes about six months to fully recover from this surgery. To prevent rejection of the donor organs, the patient will likely take immunosuppressive medication for the rest of his life.

Update Date: 7/25/2007

Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2008, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.