Lung Transplant at Henry Ford

The Henry Ford Transplant offers one of the Midwest’s most skilled and experienced lung transplant programs. The lung transplant team works closely with experts from Henry Ford’s Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine to create a care plan specific to your needs.

Henry Ford’s comprehensive program can replace a single lung, or as necessary perform double lung transplants for patients 60 and younger. These surgeries can relieve conditions like cystic fibrosis that affect both lungs. We can also combine your lung transplant with additional organs, a heart valve replacement or coronary artery bypass, performed at the same time as your transplant.

High-risk patients welcome

Other centers may decline your transplant request because of your weight or advanced age. While still prioritizing safety, Henry Ford doctors approach the criteria differently. We can perform lung transplants up to age 70, with a maximum body mass index (BMI) of 35.

Even though Henry Ford accepts more high-risk patients than many other programs, our rates of long-term patient and lung survival compare well with other programs.

Minimally invasive lung transplants

In many cases, our surgeons can perform a lung transplant through small 4-inch incisions on the side of your chest. A single-lung transplant requires two incisions, while a double-lung transplant requires four. Benefits of smaller surgical incisions include:

• Less scarring
• Reduced pain after surgery
• Lower risk of infection
• Quicker return to an active life

Personalized care that’s “All For You”

We host monthly support groups and pair you with a lung transplant coordinator. This nurse guides you through every step of the transplant process. Staff at Guest Services can also help you and your loved ones with travel and lodging. Check out our transplant patient stories to hear what our patients say about their experiences at Henry Ford.