Recovery, care, and life after lung transplant

You're never alone as you recover from a lung transplant. We’re here to make sure you have what you need to live a healthy life full of the things you love.

Make an appointment Call 800-789-7366

The care you need to start life after lung transplant

The day of your lung transplant surgery is the end of one phase of your care and the beginning of another. Through it all, our team at the Penn Medicine lung transplant program is by your side with expert medical care, compassion, and support.

As members of our transplant family, you and your loved ones are our top priority. We’re here for you whenever you need us.

Recovering from lung transplant surgery

Recovery from lung transplant surgery can be intense, both physically and emotionally. Our team has decades of experience supporting people through life after lung transplant. We’re here with expert medical care and pulmonary therapy tailored to your unique needs as well as support and resources to help you and your loved ones navigate life after transplant.

The stages of lung transplant recovery include:

Heart and vascular intensive care unit (HVICU)

“Step down” room and rehabilitation

Inpatient rehabilitation

Follow-up care

Managing risks after lung transplant surgery

All transplants come with risks. That’s why we have frequent follow-up visits with you to check for signs of complications, such as:

Bleeding: Bleeding is very common after lung transplant. If necessary, you’ll have a transfusion to replace lost blood.
Blood clots: A small percentage of people develop blood clots in the vessels entering or leaving the transplanted lung. We monitor for blood clots and can give medication to break up a clot.
Infection: Infections are common throughout life with a transplanted lung. We take infections seriously and treat you with antibiotics as needed.
Primary graft dysfunction: This condition happens soon after transplant if a transplanted lung doesn’t function properly. We monitor closely for primary graft dysfunction so we can intervene quickly.

What happens if a lung transplant is rejected?

We watch you for signs of lung transplant rejection, such as worsened breathing or fluid buildup. If we suspect rejection, we do a biopsy to confirm. If you do experience rejection, we’ll treat it with immunosuppressant medications.