Our transplant team provides innovative services for patients who are waiting for a donor to help improve quality of life and reduce symptoms. Alternative services include: 

• Lung volume reduction: Thoracic surgeons remove small wedges of damaged lung tissue in order to help the remaining lung tissue function more efficiently. This can improve the quality of life in COPD patients.
• Interventional bronchoscopy: An interventional pulmonologist can use this technique to perform bronchial dilatations, stent placement and endobronchial laser procedures to alleviate symptoms.
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO): An innovative device is used as a “stopgap” for lengthening a candidate’s life until a transplant has been found. It provides direct oxygenation and allows the patient to move, eat and even gain strength. (By contrast, traditional ventilators can damage lungs by pushing air into them.)