Children are considered for lung transplantation when their lung disease cannot be significantly improved by either medical therapy or surgery. In some cases, the lung disease may also severely affect the function of the heart.
Reasons for lung transplantation include:
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary hypertension (including pulmonary hypertension due to heart disease, whether congenital or acquired)
- Interstitial lung disease
- Cystic fibrosis
- Congenital lung diseases (e.g., surfactant deficiency and alveolar capillary dysplasia)
- Bronchiolitis obliterans
The type of transplant operation which is chosen depends on the specific type of lung disease and the patient's heart function. We provide the following options for lung transplant:
- Single lung transplantation is replacement of one lung. This type of transplant is done only if somatic growth is nearly complete and the single lung offered is of perfect size and health.
- Double lung transplantation is replacement of both lungs.
- Heart/Lung transplantation is the replacement of both lungs and the heart.
- St. Louis Children's Hospital is one of the few and most experienced providers of heart-lung transplants in the United States. Our expert care teams work seamlessly to ensure your child's health is paramount. Learn more about our Heart Transplant Program.
