LUNG TRANSPLANT
The Baylor Dallas lung transplant program
expanded its geographic reach to include patient
referrals from across the country. At the Center
for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease, more than
300 patients with pulmonary fibrosis, end-stage
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial
lung disease and cystic fibrosis were evaluated and
treated. The program also expanded, opening a
clinic in Baylor Scott & White – Fort Worth to
treat patients with interstitial lung disease and
pulmonary hypertension, as well as performing
lung transplant consultations.
“The success of the Baylor Dallas lung
transplantation program isn’t dependent
on individual physicians or staff members,”
said Randall Rosenblatt, MD, chief of
pulmonary medicine. “Rather, the success
we achieved resulted from everyone
participating in the development of the
program, whether through research, clinical
evaluation and treatment or patient support.”
The Baylor Dallas lung transplant team continued
to grow in 2016. The program now has five full-
time specialists dedicated to treatment and study
of advanced lung disease. The team also welcomed
new nurse practitioners, dietitians, registered
respiratory therapists and a pharmacist. Many of
these team members were located in the Center
for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease at Baylor
Dallas. The Center for Advanced Heart and Lung
Disease brought all the resources a pulmonary
disease patient might need to evaluate and
manage his or her chronic disease together in one
convenient location. We successfully managed the
health of most patients, but when therapy was no
36
Rather, the success we
achieved resulted from
everyone participating in
the development of
the program, whether
through research, clinical
evaluation and treatment
or patient support.
longer effective, they were evaluated for transplant.
After transplant, they returned to the center for
follow-up care and rehabilitation, if appropriate.
Researchers and transplant physicians participated
in several important research studies and clinical
trials in 2016. “We were excited to initiate
many studies ourselves,” said Dr. Rosenblatt.
“Our research looked at different types of
immune suppressors, and we worked closely
with the vast resources offered by the Baylor
Annette C. and Harold C. Simmons Transplant
Institute. Other identified areas of interest
included early markers for infections and
treatments for interstitial lung disease and
pulmonary fibrosis.”