Evaluation & Testing

Partner with transplant professionals at University Health for a thorough assessment of your health to determine if you are a candidate for lung transplantation.

What to Expect

Rely on your care team at University Health to learn about your general health and discover any health problems that could affect transplant. You must go through the assessment to be considered for a lung transplant.

Pre-Transplant Tests

You may have the following tests during your evaluation:

• 24-hour gastric pH test – Monitors how often stomach acid comes up in the esophagus
• Blood tests – Determines your blood type and screens for diseases and infections that may impact your transplant course
• Bone density test – Measures the density of your bones to diagnose osteoporosis
• Colonoscopy – Looks for problems or changes in your bowel
• Esophageal manometry study – Measures the strength of your esophagus muscles when you swallow
• Gastric emptying study – Assesses how quickly and how well your stomach empties, and whether you breathe in any fluid
• Mammogram and Pap smear – Screen women for breast and cervical cancers
• Urine test – Detects certain diseases and infections

Lungs

• Chest CT scan – Detects heart or lung problems using two-dimensional X-ray pictures of your chest
• Chest X-ray – Determines your lung and lower respiratory tract health and looks for disease and infection
• Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) – Reveal how well your lungs are working
• SNIFF test – Checks the function of your diaphragm when you breath
• Ventilation-perfusion lung scan – Measures breathing (air) and blood supply to the lungs

Heart

Your heart and lungs work together to make sure your body has enough oxygen-rich blood. You will have heart tests during your assessment to check for problems before transplantation. The heart tests are:

• Cardiac catheterization – Measures the heart's internal blood pressure, assesses blood supply to the heart muscle, views the coronary arteries and the aorta, and measures the oxygen level in the blood.
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound) – Assesses the structure and how well your heart pumps
• Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) – Records the electrical signals from the heart to track and document your heart activity

Transplant Medical Consults

Depend on multiple transplant specialists to provide individual consultations to evaluate all aspects of your health, such as:

• Dental – Checks the health of your teeth and gums
• Dietary – Establishes your nutritional health and helps you plan proper food choices if you need to lose or gain weight before a lung transplant
• Gastrointestinal – Assesses scleroderma or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Social work – Assists with nonmedical issues and insurance, and provides information on psychosocial risk factors after lung transplant
• Pharmacy – Dispenses and advises on medication

Results

Results from your pre-transplant evaluation and testing will determine if you are a candidate for lung transplantation. Your pre-transplant coordinator will keep you informed of your selection status.