Nursing perspectives on lung transplantation.
Lung transplantation has become a viable, although highly risky, option for select patients with end-stage lung disease. Lack of donor suitability is a major obstacle to its more widespread application. Many patients wait months and sometimes a year or more for an appropriate donor; some die waiting. Careful evaluation and selection of patients, rigorous pre- and post-transplant pulmonary rehabilitation, and intensive nursing and medical care significantly improve post-transplant recovery. Improved preoperative exercise tolerance and muscle strength prepare patients for the surgery and ensuing postoperative course. Likewise, the long-term post-transplant rehabilitation is essential to ultimate recovery and return to a normal healthy life. The gradual but dramatic long-term improvements in exercise performance during post-transplant training have been well documented.
Malen
J F
JF
Boychuk
J E
JE
D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D016040:Lung Transplantation / Q000276:immunology / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D010347:Patient Care Planning