Despite increased numbers of high risk/high Lung Allocation Score patients, survival rates for the Lung Transplant Program at Penn exceeded United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reported national survival rates at one month, one year and three years. Higher than expected survival in this population is a testament to the quality of the Lung Transplant Program at Penn.

At the Lung Transplant Program at Penn, physiological match (eg. blood type, size and organ needed) is a main factor used in matching donors to recipients, in addition to the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) – a system implemented by UNOS that ranks patients based on medical urgency and net transplant benefit.

2006 Lung Transplant Waiting Time and LAS
The Lung Transplant Program at Penn is one of the most experienced in the world. Many patients who have been turned down for transplantation at other centers have successfully undergone lifesaving transplant procedures at Penn.

High-risk patients typically have higher LAS, thus their expected wait for an organ may be quite short. As a result of Penn's quick response to getting referred patients onto the UNOS transplant waiting list, fewer patients are dying while waiting for a donor lung.