Lung Transplant

For patients with end-stage lung disease, a lung transplant can be a life-changing treatment. The number of successful lung transplants performed in the United States and globally has grown steadily over the last decade, with more than 2,000 procedures now happening each year in the U.S. alone.

This advanced surgical option is for patients with severe lung disease that no longer responds to other treatments. Common conditions that may lead to the need for a lung transplant include:

• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: A genetic condition that can cause lung and liver damage
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult
• Cystic fibrosis
• Emphysema: A condition where the air sacs in the lungs are damaged, causing breathlessness
• Lung disease due to previous cancer treatments
• Occupational lung disease
• Pulmonary fibrosis: A condition where lung tissue becomes scarred, making it hard to breathe
• Pulmonary hypertension: High blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs
• Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that can affect many organs, especially the lungs
• Scleroderma: A chronic autoimmune disease that causes hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues

Ochsner is a Medicare-approved lung transplant program, and we accept most insurance carriers.

The Ochsner lung transplant team is made up of leading experts, including transplant pulmonologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and specially trained anesthesiologists. We understand that your journey involves more than just a surgical procedure. That is why our dedicated staff also includes nurses, a financial coordinator, a transplant pharmacist and experts in social services and nutritional support.

Your lung transplant nurse coordinator is your dedicated partner, working to streamline your appointments by scheduling them on the same day whenever possible. Following your transplant, our commitment to your health continues. Our team will be there to provide comprehensive, lifetime care to support your long-term well-being.

Meet our lung transplant team

Zak expressed deep gratitude for the Ochsner transplant team's extraordinary care. "My perspective on life had the chance to develop in the first place because of my transplant! I was too young to understand what I was missing. I got to learn who I am because of my transplant," said Zak T., a double-lung transplant patient.

At the Ochsner Transplant Institute, we believe in a collaborative partnership with our referring physicians. We are committed to maintaining clear and consistent communication throughout every stage of your patient’s care. You will receive timely updates via written correspondence detailing initial clinic visits, surgery, hospital discharge, and routine follow-up appointments. Post-surgery, our team continues to monitor for transplant-related complications and manages maintenance immunosuppression, keeping you informed every step of the way.

How to refer a patient

When you entrust your patient to one of the nation’s leading lung transplant hospitals, we make the referral process straightforward and efficient.

To refer a patient to one of the best lung transplant hospitals in the country, please:

1. Complete the referral document: Fill out this this referral document with the necessary patient information.
2. Submit the referral: Send the completed document to our team by faxing the document over to our department at 504-842-6627, or email referrals to ReferLungTransplant@ochsner.org.
3. Contact us directly: You can also call our 24-hour Referral Hotline at 504-842-3925 to speak with a member of our team.

Please contact our department one of the following ways:

1. Telephone: 504-842-3925
2. Fax: 504-842-6627
3. Email: ReferLungTransplant@ochsner.org

A lung transplant is a proven surgical option for patients with end-stage lung disease that no longer responds to other treatments. Our team evaluates candidates with a range of severe conditions, including COPD, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. A comprehensive evaluation by our multidisciplinary team will determine if a lung transplant is the right path forward for you.

At the Ochsner Transplant Institute, your care is managed by a dedicated team of leading experts, including transplant pulmonologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, and specially trained anesthesiologists. This team extends to include a lung transplant nurse coordinator, a financial coordinator, a transplant pharmacist and experts in social services and nutritional support. We coordinate your appointments and provide comprehensive, lifetime care following your transplant to support your long-term health and well-being.

All lung transplants are performed at the Ochsner Transplant Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana, the only lung transplant center in the state and the entire Gulf Coast region. We understand that a transplant journey involves more than just medical procedures. Our team is structured to address the emotional, financial and practical challenges you and your family may face. From your initial evaluation through post-transplant life, we provide unwavering support and clear communication, partnering with you every step of the way.