Waiting Time
The waiting time for a lung transplant is unpredictable.
This is due in part to the success of lung transplantation,
with more patients being added to the waiting
list, combined with a continuing shortage of available
donor organs. A suitable donor will have compatible
blood type and size with the identified recipient.
Donor lungs are allocated by the United Network
for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the regional organ
procurement organization, Gift of Life Donor
Program. A suitable donor for you will have a
compatible blood type and be approximately your
size. Since the list is based on medical urgency,
your status on the list may fluctuate as you
or others develop worsening of disease process.
For more information, visit the UNOS
web site to read answers to frequently asked questions
about the lung allocation system/policy.
Reviewed by Robert
Kotloff, MD
Last updated September 2004
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