Lung Transplant: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Lung Transplant?
A transplant pulmonologist, a lung doctor who cares for transplant patients, leads lung transplant care. A thoracic surgeon, a chest surgeon, does the operation. A transplant team works together before and after surgery. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is a lung transplant?
A lung transplant removes a person's diseased lung and replaces it with a healthy one. The healthy lung comes from a donor who has died. Some people get one lung during a transplant. Other people get two.
Lungs can also be given by living donors. Each person donates a segment, called a lobe, of their lung.
Symptoms
Lung transplants are used when lung disease is so severe that other treatments, such as medicines or breathing devices, no longer work.
Causes and who gets it
Lung transplants are used for people who are likely to die from lung disease within 1 to 2 years. They most often are used to treat people who have severe:
- COPD, a long-term lung disease that makes it hard to breathe.
- Cystic fibrosis.
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, scarring of the lungs with no known cause.
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
- Pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in the lung arteries.
In most cases, a lung transplant is done only after all other treatments for lung failure are unsuccessful. It may be recommended for people under age 70 who have severe lung disease.
A lung transplant may not be done for people who are too sick or badly nourished for the procedure, or who continue to smoke or abuse alcohol or other drugs. It may also not be done for people who cannot reliably take their medicines.
How doctors diagnose it
You will have tests to find out if you are a good candidate for the operation. They include blood tests, blood typing, tests to evaluate your heart, and tests to evaluate your lungs.
Good candidates are put on a regional waiting list. Your place on the list is based on the type of lung problem, how severe it is, and how likely it is that a transplant will be successful.
Treatment
During lung transplant surgery, you are asleep and pain-free under general anesthesia. A surgical cut is made in the chest. The operation is often done with a heart-lung machine, which does the work of your heart and lungs during the surgery.
A single lung transplant takes 4 to 8 hours. A double lung transplant takes 6 to 12 hours.
You should expect to stay in the hospital for 7 to 21 days after a lung transplant. The recovery period is about 6 months. You will need regular check-ups with blood tests and x-rays for many years.
To prevent rejection, transplant patients must take anti-rejection medicines. Do not stop or skip these medicines unless your transplant team tells you to. These medicines also reduce the body's natural ability to fight off infections.
Risks of lung transplant include blood clots, a higher risk of infections from anti-rejection medicines, and damage to the kidneys, liver, or other organs from those medicines. Rejection of the new lung is also a risk. Follow your transplant team's instructions.
About four out of five patients are still alive 1 year after the transplant. For most people, quality of life is improved after a lung transplant.
When to see a doctor
While you wait for a new lung, report new medical problems, or problems that get worse, to the transplant team. Make sure the team can reach you quickly if a lung becomes available.
After your transplant, contact your transplant team if you have increasing shortness of breath, a temperature of 38 C (100.4 F) or above, feeling hot and shivery, a severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, fluid retention, or little or no urine. Early signs of lung rejection are often found through blood tests at clinic visits, so go to every appointment.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have severe trouble breathing, chest pain, or fainting.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care doctor can help manage your overall health and coordinate with your transplant team and lung specialist.
Common questions
Who needs a lung transplant?
People with severe lung disease who are likely to die from it within 1 to 2 years. Other treatments, such as medicines or breathing devices, no longer work for them.
Where does the new lung come from?
It usually comes from a donor who has died.
How long does recovery take after a lung transplant?
The recovery period is about 6 months. Often the transplant team will ask you to stay close to the hospital for the first 3 months.
What are the risks of a lung transplant?
Risks include rejection of the transplanted lung and infection.
Can you get a single lung transplant?
Yes. Some people get one lung during a transplant, and other people get two.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Lung Transplantation
- MedlinePlus - Lung Transplant (Medical Encyclopedia)
- NHS Blood and Transplant - Warning Signs After a Lung Transplant
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
