Choose Duke Health for Your Lung Transplant
You may be a candidate for a lung transplant if you have or are nearing end-stage lung disease that has not responded to other treatments. The process can be challenging and life-changing.
As the largest lung transplant program in the U.S., Duke has the experience and expertise to help you get a lung transplant faster than most other centers. It's why we have some of the shortest wait times in the nation.
We offer video visits in many states before and after lung transplant surgery.
Your Lung Transplant Journey
Your lung transplant journey at Duke begins with your dedicated transplant coordinator – a nurse with special training and experience in lung transplant care. They help you navigate the transplant process and can answer your questions 24/7.
Meet the entire Duke lung transplant team and discover how they support you every step of the way.
Step 1: Getting Started
- Ask your doctor for a referral or contact our team for a self-referral.
- Share your medical records.
- If appropriate, schedule your evaluation. This can take place in person or via video.
Step 2: Transplant Evaluation
Depending on your needs, you will have a one-day consultation, a two-day evaluation, or a five-day evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for lung transplantation.
Step 3: Waitlist
- Once you’ve met the requirements for transplant, your name will be added to the national transplant waitlist.
- Be prepared for a call indicating it's time for your transplant.
Step 4: Lung Transplant Surgery
- One or both of your lungs will be removed and replaced with healthy donor lungs.
- You will recover in our specialized cardiothoracic ICU.
Step 5: After Transplant
- You will recover near Duke for the first three to six months after surgery so we can closely monitor your progress.
- You’ll participate in follow-up visits and pulmonary rehabilitation.
What Patients Are Saying
Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a child, Sara Kominsky has had two double lung transplants at Duke.
Why Choose Duke
Experienced Lung Transplant Surgeons
Duke surgeons have performed more than 2,400 lung transplants since our program started in 1992. We completed 110 lung transplants in 2022, the second-highest number in the nation.
We Accept More Patients with Complex Conditions Than Other Centers
We routinely perform lung transplants for people with complex illnesses, including multi-drug resistant infections, immunologic deficiencies, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease. We also have extensive experience with people ages 65 and older.
We Offer More Donor Lungs to People Who Need Them
We are a leader in expanding the donor pool through FDA-approved devices that keep donor lungs viable longer than the standard preservation process. These advances can increase the use of high-quality donor lungs.
One of the Oldest and Largest Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs in the U.S.
Our expert providers use education, endurance and strengthening exercises, and counseling to help you prepare before surgery. After your lung transplant, we help you recover, manage your medications, and set you on the road to lifelong health.
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.