Surgical and medical expertise

The Lung Transplant Program is led by surgeons with the highest expertise in lung and heart/lung transplantation. Under the leadership of Katsuhide Maeda, MD, PhD, our surgeons have cared for children of all ages with the most complex pediatric lung conditions. Our program features a pediatric lung transplant medical director, Maureen Josephson, DO, who has extensive experience caring for both children undergoing lung transplant and children with complex lung conditions.

Children who need a lung or heart/lung transplant also need a large team of experts in a variety of specialties. You child's team may include experts in the following areas:

• Cardiology (heart conditions)
• Infectious diseases
• Nephrology (kidney conditions)
• Immunology
• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Nutrition
• Psychiatry and psychology
• Intensive care
• Pain service
• Pediatric Advanced Care

Our specialists will regularly consult with your child's pediatrician or family doctor, as well as your local pulmonologist, and supply frequent updates on your child's progress.

State of-the-art facilities

After the lung transplant, your child will be cared for in one of the nation's largest and best-equipped Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU). The unit's highly experienced critical care staff is specifically trained in the care of transplant patients, as well as a variety of other critically ill children. The PICU staff works closely with the transplant team in caring for your child.

After leaving the PICU, your child will be transferred to the floor for patients with lung conditions, where the nursing staff have been specially trained to care for post-lung-transplant patients.

Next-generation technology

CHOP is one of the first pediatric transplant centers to adapt a groundbreaking technology for organ procurement that allows the donated organ to thrive outside of the body. This means the organ is able to travel longer distances. The result is a greater chance for successful transplant.

Our volumes and outcomes

An important fact for your family to know is the number of lung transplants done here and our transplant survival rates.

The number of lung transplants done here in a recent five-year period:

• 2023: 3 transplants
• 2022: 0 transplants
• 2021: 2 transplants
• 2020: 3 transplants
• 2019: 5 transplants

For patients age 0 to 17, our lung graft survival rates (the transplanted organ continues to function) are higher than the national average rates at 1 month, 1 year and 3 years after transplant. For the same age group, our patient survival rates are higher than the national average rates at 1 month, 1 year and 3 years after transplant. (Source: Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients)

Follow-up care

After lung transplant, your child will need follow-up care for the rest of their life. We have a partnership with Penn Medicine's adult Lung Transplant Program. We also have partnerships with many other solid organ transplant programs across the country. These and other connections we have help with coordinating care as your child gets older.

Family-centered care

Each member of your child's team understands that this is an extremely difficult time for your family. It is our goal to do everything we can to help you cope with the emotional stress of caring for a child who needs a lung transplant.

We know that clear communication about your child's illness and progress is especially important, so we make this a priority. We can also help you address practical matters, such as dealing with the financial issues related to transplant and ongoing care. We also offer a high level of support services for your entire family. We offer psychological counseling, access to support groups and more. Our child life specialists can help your child understand what it happening and cope with being in the hospital.

If you have any needs or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask any team member.