Recovery at the transplant centre

You will spend at least the first 1-3 days in the intensive care unit to allow the extensive monitoring that is required.

Sometimes your time in intensive care may be longer. It's not unusual for patients to be there for 3-5 days or longer. 

Most lung transplants start working within a few hours of the operation. The transplant team will monitor your vital signs carefully along with your blood results. This will tell them when the lung transplant is starting to work.

For the first 2-3 days after the operation you will be sore around the wound and will require strong painkillers given by injection or by epidural. Over time, the pain will lessen, and painkilling tablets will be enough.

You may feel sick, so anti-sickness medication may be needed for the first few days.

Managing your pain

It is important that your pain is well controlled. There are specialist pain teams that can help, if needed.

Good pain control will help you get out of bed earlier, which works to reduce the risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs. It also allows you to take deep breaths and clear your transplanted lungs, which will help you and reduce the risks of chest infections. However, painkillers have side effects, including sickness, itching, drowsiness, and constipation.

The nurses and doctors looking after you will keep a close eye on your oxygen levels in your blood, pulse, blood pressure, temperature and urine output. You will need regular blood tests, as least once daily and sometimes more often.

To start with you’ll need fluid to be given to you through a drip (intravenously into your vein).

It won’t be long before you can start eating and drinking. This is usually within a day or two of the surgery. The transplant team will see you at least once a day and advise you about this.

Within a day or two you will be helped to sit up in bed and encouraged to start walking. The nurses and physiotherapists will help you. It is very important to get out of bed as soon as possible after your operation to reduce the risk of blood clots in your legs and lungs and other problems after surgery.

You may feel quite bloated after your operation, as it is likely that your bowels will not be working properly for the first few days. Your transplant team will tell you when you can start eating and drinking again. You may need tablets (laxatives) to help you open your bowels. The sooner you get out of bed and start moving around, the sooner your bowels will start working.

If you are still constipated after having laxatives, you may need an enema (a medication given up your anus) to help you open your bowels.

After the first 2-3 days, some of the plastic tubes in your veins can be removed. Your transplant team will see you and make these decisions.

Many medicines will be prescribed after a lung transplant, for example to prevent rejection or infection, or to manage pain.

All patients that have a lung transplant will need immunosuppressants. These lower your immune system and reduce the chance of your body rejecting your new lung.

Prior to discharge the nursing team will ensure that you and your support network are comfortable with your new medications. You will be supervised for the first 2 weeks to make sure that you are able to take your medicines properly.

Each transplant centre unit uses slightly different medication doses and types. Before you leave the transplant centre, you will be given detailed information about your medicines and how to take them. You’ll also be told what other medicines or food to avoid.

It’s very important that you take all your new medicines as directed.

Learn more about transplant medicines

Please talk to your GP or transplant team before you start taking any over-the-counter medicines or herbal medications. This is because some non-prescription medicines and herbal medications can affect your immunosuppressant medications.

If you require extra support at home (for example, help with cooking, cleaning, mobility, wound care), this will be discussed with you before you leave hospital.

An appointment will be made for you in the lung transplant clinic and you’ll be told the date, time, and location of this visit. To start with, most patients will be seen at least twice a week in the transplant clinic after their operation. Hospital transport can be arranged, if needed.

Once the first few months after your operation have passed, it is likely that your lung function will be stable, and that you will need to come to the transplant clinic less often. After a year, as long as you do not have any serious problems, most patients only have to attend the centre once every 3 to 6 months.