Adaptation of a weight management program for a potential lung transplant candidate.
Obesity is a relative contraindication for heart and lung transplantation at most transplant centers. Surgical risks are higher for obese patients, and 1 study suggests that obesity is significantly correlated with higher posttransplant death rates in cardiac transplantation. Obesity is a restrictive disease that contributes to exercise intolerance in patients with lung disease. A weight management group was formed at a transplant center to help obese patients with heart and/or lung disease lose weight and maintain their goal weight, with the hope of decreasing their waiting time to be listed for transplantation and their incidence of weight-related complications. Some patients experienced symptomatic improvement, which delayed their need for heart or lung transplantation.
Forsythe
J
J
Jewish Hospital, Louisville, Ky., USA.
Cooley
K
K
Greaver
B
B
D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D015431:Weight Loss