 
For nearly a decade, Allegheny General Hospital has offered organ transplantation for many types of end-stage organ disease. In patients whose pulmonary function has deteriorated to the point of end-stage lung failure as a result of chronic diseases such as emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension, single- or double-lung transplantation is available through the hospital's highly experienced, multidisciplinary transplant team. Each patient undergoes a comprehensive evaluation and receives support from all members of this team, which includes thoracic surgeons, pulmonary specialists, cardiologists, a clinical coordinator, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers and pastoral care representatives. The Allegheny Lung Transplant Program has established survival rates well above national levels. Post-operative national survival rates for lung transplantation now average 70 percent at one year, with the quality of life generally being very good. Steady improvement in these rates reflects continual advancements in surgical techniques, as well as improvements in immunosuppressive therapy and technology that helps support lung function. Patients who successfully complete the evaluation are placed on the transplant list. Due to the long waiting time created by the shortage of donor lungs, it is very important that patients be evaluated as early as possible if a transplant is potentially being considered in their future.
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