Allergy & Pulmonary Medicine | Pediatric Lung Transplant

Lung transplantation is usually the only viable treatment option for children with end-stage pulmonary and pulmonary vascular disease. The pediatric lung transplant program at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Children's Hospital (SLCH) has performed nearly half of all pediatric lung transplant procedures undertaken worldwide from 1990 through 2003, ranking it as the largest program in North America. The first child received her transplant in June of 1990. Since that time, nearly 250 children have received more than 280 lung or heart-lung transplants at St. Louis Children's Hospital (data through April 2004).

Medical care is provided by Drs. Stuart Sweet (medical director, pulmonary transplant director), and Albert Faro of the division of Allergy and Pulmonary Medicine. Dr. Charles B. Huddleston of the division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is the surgical director. The physicians work closely with a multi-disciplinary team including, transplant nurse coordinators, pediatric cardiologists, respiratory and physical therapists, social workers, child life workers, psychologists, dieticians and financial coordinators. Each member of this team contributes to comprehensive support for the patient family and consultation, as needed to the referring physicians.

Potential transplant candidates are referred to SLCH from health care centers worldwide. After a thorough evaluation, acceptable candidates are listed with United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization in the United States that governs allocation of solid organs for transplant. The UNOS organ allocation policies for lung and heart-lung transplant take into account the recipient's blood type, size and other factors. The current policy for allocation of organs is available on the UNOS web site.

For information concerning patient referral and care, please contact: Dr. Stuart Sweet, Albert Faro or any of the transplant coordinators at (314) 454-4131.