Lung Transplants

Changes In Medication And Treatment Protocols Key To Nation-leading Success

Lung transplant patients at the University of Virginia have the nation's highest one-year survival rate thanks to changes in post-transplantation medications, quality post-operative protocols and an experienced multidisciplinary team of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists and transplant coordinators.

UVa's one-year survival rate of 98.08 percent outpaced the average one-year survival rate of 87.6 percent from Jan. 1, 2005 to June 30, 2005, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. UVa's three-year survival rate was 81.4 percent, compared to the national average of 68.3 percent.

"The remarkable point is that our transplant patients have actually gotten sicker," says David R. Jones, M.D., surgical director of UVa's lung transplant program. "We are seeing more retransplants, more double-lung transplants, more patients with complications and more older patients."

Changing the immunosuppressive drugs given to patients after surgery was key to increasing the survival rate, Jones says. Some patients had been observed to have adverse reactions to the immunosuppressive medication, including hypotension and low platelet counts. The drug change, to the less-toxic Daclizamab, was well tolerated by patients, allowing them to advance their recovery by leaving the hospital sooner.

UVa is one of two lung transplant programs in Virginia and averages nearly one transplant per week. To aid patients and help create quality outcomes, UVa has developed strong treatment protocols and solid relationships with referring physicians and pharmacists to coordinate follow-up treatment.

 "Our experience working together has allowed us to develop protocols for post-transplantation care which prevent things from being missed," says Mark Robbins, M.D., medical director of the lung transplant program.

Robbins and Jones are both quick to credit the program's nurse transplant coordinators for guiding patients through all aspects of the pre- and post-transplant workups and follow-up care.

"We have confidence in the system we have developed so the little details don't fall through the cracks and our patients and all the people involved in their care are on the same page when it comes to their recovery," Robbins adds.

To refer a patient for a lung transplant, call UVa Physician Direct at 800-552-3723.