Surgical procedure that replaces one or both of a child’s diseased lungs with healthy lungs

Healthy lungs usually coming from a human donor who has been on life support and declared brain-dead

To treat children with poor, life-threatening lung function (caused by a disease such as cystic fibrosis or infection) that isn’t responsive to other therapies

A child must first undergo a thorough evaluation to ensure he’s an appropriate candidate for transplantation. The transplant work-up involves an evaluation of all major organ functioning as well as a mental health evaluation.

Eligible candidates are placed on a nationwide waiting list.

Factors considered when a donor becomes available include the recipient’s blood type, geographic distance between the donor and recipient, and the lung allocation score (a scoring system implemented in spring 2005 where donor lungs are allocated based on recipient need,
not the amount of time the recipient spends on the waiting list).

Lung transplant must occur within 4 to 6 hours of the lungs being removed from the donor.

The child and his parents must be thoroughly prepared for this major procedure; provide an age-appropriate explanation of why the surgery is being performed, and encourage the child and his parents to ask questions.