We want to help you and your family prepare for your transplant. Making plans to manage your needs before your transplant can reduce the amount of stress you will have to cope with during the recovery process.

You will probably have to make some changes in your plan over time as your situation changes. Please let us know about changes as they occur.

When you are called to come to the hospital for your transplant, it is vital that you arrive at Duke University Hospital within two hours, and you must have a reliable plan for doing so.

Most patients will relocate to the Durham area so they can be available. Relocating also allows patients to participate in the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program before transplant. Use our relocation checklist to make this transition easier (PDF, 16KB).

Duke patients who receive lung transplants are hospitalized for an average of 16 days. How long you are hospitalized is based on your response to the surgery.

When you are discharged from the hospital, you must participate in the Center for Living Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program. This program helps you recover more quickly and gives the transplant team an opportunity to monitor your progress closely before you go home. Learn more about our pulmonary rehabilitation program.

It is important to plan for your needs during the waiting period and during the post-operative period, as well as to make plans for obtaining your medicines. You will need to have your prescriptions filled before you leave the hospital.

It is not uncommon for patients to require the assistance of a home-care nurse for antibiotic and/or anti-rejection IV infusions.

Your long-term success depends on many things, including your adherence to recommended treatments and monitoring. Sometimes, a patient will do exactly as we ask and still experience problems.

Our goal is to have you return to the best health possible as quickly as is realistic. You and your family are partners with us in achieving these goals.  

How well our patients respond to surgery is reported publicly through the Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients (SRTR). These outcomes data, publicly reported every six months, appear on ustransplant.org.

Visit this Web site for the most current data. Duke’s outcomes meet the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements and conditions for participation by transplant centers.