Starting the Lung Transplant Process

Step 1: Making Your First Appointment

For More Information 855-855-6484

The first step in the lung transplant process involves a referral for care and a review of your medical records. During the review, our pulmonologists determine if you may be eligible for a lung transplant at Duke. If you are a potential candidate, they will also assess your transplant timeline, identify any barriers to transplant that need to be addressed, and contact you with results of the review -- before asking you to commit the time required for a comprehensive lung transplant evaluation. 

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Reasons for Lung Transplantation

You may be a candidate for lung transplantation if you have end-stage lung disease -- when your lungs are so unhealthy that they cannot function, and your lung disease cannot be corrected any other way. The following lung diseases may cause your lungs to fail:

Our Locations

Lung transplant surgery is performed at Duke University Hospital. Pre- and post-transplant appointments take place at our pulmonology clinic in Durham.

Getting Started

Referral from a Doctor
Typically, your pulmonologist will refer you to our team. You can also ask them to complete a referral form. Your doctor will submit the form with your medical history, including recent lab and medical test results. 

Contact Our Team to Self-Refer
You can also start the process with our team without a doctor’s referral. Call 919-613-7777 to learn how to begin the review process. You will need your insurance information, recent medical records, and imaging and other test results to get started.

The Medical Review
After we receive a referral and the required documents, our lung transplant referral coordinator will gather any additional information needed to begin the review process. This will include financial approval from your insurance company. The review will take place before we meet with you. Our lung transplant team will carefully examine your records to determine if you are a candidate for lung transplant surgery and to assess the severity of your lung disease. They will also identify any health concerns that need to be addressed before you can be considered for a lung transplant. Your doctor will notify you about the results of the review and next steps.

Ready for an Evaluation?

If you are interested in making an appointment for an evaluation, please ask your pulmonologist to submit a referral.

Scheduling Your First Appointment

If the results of your review indicate that lung transplant surgery may be appropriate for you, our transplant coordinator will contact you to set up your first appointment with a Duke transplant pulmonologist for a lung transplant evaluation. This can take place in person or through video visits.

We may recommend a complete, five-day in-person evaluation or a two-day limited evaluation. The limited evaluation is for people with less advanced lung disease. It can take place in person or via a video visit. Complete evaluations are reserved/required for people with advanced lung disease who are ready for surgery. 

Video Visit Options

Many people come to Duke from outside of North Carolina for lung transplant surgery. To ease the burden and expense of travel, we offer several options for remote care. Telehealth appointments are currently available and covered by insurance in more than 20 states -- with more to follow -- for people who may be candidates for lung translation but do not need surgery immediately. If your condition worsens, you will come to Duke for a complete in-person evaluation. 

  • Alabama
  • Connecticut
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia

Before your first remote evaluation session, you will undergo testing -- including blood, breathing, and imaging tests -- at a facility close to you. During your video-based appointment, you will meet your transplant pulmonologist and learn more about the lung transplant program at Duke. You and your pulmonologist will also discuss your test results and any health concerns that need to be addressed before surgery. 

Video Check-In Appointments Before and After Surgery
If you have questions or concerns after your limited evaluation, you can schedule additional video visits with your transplant pulmonologist. Telehealth appointments are also available after lung transplantation.

Consultations
In some cases, we offer consultations, which can take place in person or remotely. These appointments are for people who have already completed a comprehensive evaluation elsewhere and want to be listed at more than one center or by special request from an insurance provider. 

Remote, Written Second Opinion Reports
You can get a written second opinion report from a Duke transplant pulmonologist. A second opinion can confirm a diagnosis, offer a different diagnosis, provide information about the most advanced treatments available, and ensure confidence in your decisions when faced with a serious medical condition.
 

Step 2: Evaluation

Best Hospital for Pulmonology and Lung Surgery in NC

Where you receive your care matters. Duke University Hospital is proud of our team and the exceptional care they provide. They are why our pulmonology and lung surgery program is nationally ranked, and the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024–2025.

This page was medically reviewed on 12/02/2022 by