Inova Lung Services — Programs and Services — Lung Transplant — The Transplant Process: Post-Transplant Clinics

Post-Transplant Clinics

We follow our post-transplant patients very closely and will see you frequently in the lung transplant clinic after your surgery. Outlined below are our general clinic guidelines, but a sudden change in your condition may warrant additional unscheduled tests such as chest X-rays, CAT scans, 6 minute walk test (6MWT) to detect activity-related low oxygen levels, blood work, spirometry, or bronchoscopy.

We make every attempt to maintain an efficient clinic schedule and to see you at your scheduled time. However, lung transplant patients who present with unexpected complications require the care of multiple providers and may need to be seen ahead of waiting patients. Be assured that you will receive our full attention once it is your turn to be seen.

Our clinic patients can develop various infections. There is no reliable way to isolate sick patients from well patients in the waiting area. Always wear a mask for your clinic visits 4 to 6 weeks after transplant.

Frequency of visits

After you are discharged from the hospital, we will see you in the clinic for a visit twice a week for the first month. If clinically stable, your appointments will be scheduled as weekly visits for 1 month, every other week for 3 months, monthly for 3 months and then once every 3 months after the first year. If there is a change in your condition we will need to see you between routine appointments.

Hours of operation

The post-transplant clinic sees patients from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

What happens during the visit

Regular appointments include spirometry (done at our clinic or pulmonary function lab), blood work (done in our clinic) and a clinic visit with our staff. A chest X-ray (performed in the Radiology department) may be requested as well.

A nursing assistant will check your vital signs and do blood work. The transplant coordinator will review your vitals in your daily record and confirm that you are taking your medications appropriately.

The transplant nurse practitioner or pulmonologist will perform an exam, review your studies, discuss any problems you may be experiencing and make any needed changes to your care plan. At the end of your visit, staff will confirm your next appointment.

Before your visit

Do not take your morning dose of immunosuppression (Prograf, Cyclosporine, Rapamune, Everolimus) or antifungal (posaconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole) before your blood is taken. We routinely test for complete blood count (CBC), chemistries, immunosuppression and antifungal levels and CMV infection. Blood test results are usually available the same day as your visit. We will notify you by telephone if your test results indicate a need to change your regimen.

Important reminder

Please bring your medication list and daily records with your vital signs and spirometry with you to every visit.