Lung Transplant Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have a lung transplant, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Rejection of the donor lung (your body's immune system attacks the new lungs)
• Conditions related to taking immunosuppressant drugs (increase your risk for infection and cancer)
• Anesthesia-related problems
• Death

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills—You are at an increased risk for infection because of the immunosuppressive drugs.
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
• Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting
• Increased sputum (phlegm) production
• Coughing up blood
• Waking up at night due to shortness of breath
• Sudden headache or feeling faint
• Changes in weight or blood pressure
• Chest pain or sensation of your heart fluttering, missing beats, or beating erratically
• Pain, burning, urgency, frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
• Excessive tiredness or swelling of feet

In case of an emergency, CALL 911.