Lung transplant waiting list and staying ready

After you’ve completed the lung transplant consultation and evaluation process and we decide together that a transplant is the right choice for you, we put you on the waiting list maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

During your time on the waiting list, we monitor your health and keep in touch to make sure you have the resources you need. Our lung transplant team has guided hundreds of families through this process. We understand the challenges of waiting, and we’re here to support you.

How do you get on the lung transplant waiting list?

We place you on the lung transplant waiting list by submitting your information to UNOS. The UNOS database keeps track of everyone who is waiting for a transplant and all the donor organs available in the U.S. You may be listed with multiple transplant centers if you wish.

How long is the waitlist for a lung transplant?

Your time on the waiting list may range from days to years. The UNOS database calculates your position on the waiting list based on factors including:

• Blood type: You’ll receive a lung from a donor with the same blood type (A, B, AB, or O). People with blood type AB can receive organs from donors of any blood type.
• Your lung allocation score: This score ranges from 0 to 100 and is calculated based on your medical tests and other health factors. It represents how severe your condition is. We may have you repeat some medical tests periodically so we can keep your lung allocation score up to date.
• Distance from the donor hospital to the recipient hospital: There’s a limit to how long a donor lung can be out of a body. UNOS matches donor and recipient lungs partially based on travel time and distance.

While you await your transplant, we’ll work with you to make sure you’re healthy enough for lung transplant surgery when a donor lung is available. Things we’ll ask you to do to stay ready include:

Stay in touch

Keeping the lines of communication open means we won’t miss anything that could stand in the way of your transplant. Help us help you by:

• Updating your contact and insurance information
• Keeping all medical appointments and getting testing done when your team orders it
• Letting us know if you are hospitalized, diagnosed with a new condition, or start or change medications

Take steps to stay healthy

You have a team of social workers and nutritionists behind you helping you stay ready for transplant. Follow their nutrition advice, get regular exercise, and find healthy ways to manage the uncertainty of waiting.

Be prepared to get the call

When you’re matched with a donor lung, we’ll ask you to come to the hospital immediately. It’s best to stay ready by:

• Keeping a mobile phone with you at all times
• Having a transportation plan for getting to the hospital
• Packing a bag in advance
• Preparing to recover in Philadelphia by researching lodging options such as the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House, a homelike, low-cost guest house for transplant patients and caregivers