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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
My visit with Shands
Answered by
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This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
My visit with Shands
by Kathyfl, Nov 06, 2007 08:23AM
Today we met with Dr. Baz, who is the head of the Lung Transplant Department at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida . He reviewed Kathy's medical records and testing to date, then did an exam.
He believes a transplant is in order and is the right thing to do....and gave us the following information:
After a transplant, 50% of recipients die within the first 5 years. In year 1, 20% die primarily from infection due to the operation. .In years 2 through 4, 30% more die from rejection which is the body rejecting the new organ and the failure of rejection drugs to stop this process.
He said that a lung transplant is unlike liver or kidney where you are likely to survive 10 - 12 years.
Because of this high mortality rate , Dr. Baz believes in holding off putting people on transplant lists as long as possible, until a patient has a year or less to live.
Thankfully, Dr. Baz believes that Kathy has longer than a year. Therefore he wants to see her in 6 months or earlier if her next testing in January does not come back well. . He will then put her through further tests, and if necessary, she will be placed on the list. The average wait time once you are on the list is 6 months to 1 year.
At this point we plan to take this Doctor's advice and hopefully Kathy will not see him again before 6 months and he will test her further...and tell us to come back again in another 6 months!!
After seeing Dr. Baz, the good news is that Kathy is now accepted as a patient in the Lung Transplant department at Shands.
He believes a transplant is in order and is the right thing to do....and gave us the following information:
After a transplant, 50% of recipients die within the first 5 years. In year 1, 20% die primarily from infection due to the operation. .In years 2 through 4, 30% more die from rejection which is the body rejecting the new organ and the failure of rejection drugs to stop this process.
He said that a lung transplant is unlike liver or kidney where you are likely to survive 10 - 12 years.
Because of this high mortality rate , Dr. Baz believes in holding off putting people on transplant lists as long as possible, until a patient has a year or less to live.
Thankfully, Dr. Baz believes that Kathy has longer than a year. Therefore he wants to see her in 6 months or earlier if her next testing in January does not come back well. . He will then put her through further tests, and if necessary, she will be placed on the list. The average wait time once you are on the list is 6 months to 1 year.
At this point we plan to take this Doctor's advice and hopefully Kathy will not see him again before 6 months and he will test her further...and tell us to come back again in another 6 months!!
After seeing Dr. Baz, the good news is that Kathy is now accepted as a patient in the Lung Transplant department at Shands.
Doctor's Answer
