In 2016 the Pediatric Lung Transplant Program at Cincinnati Children’s became the only program worldwide to have two children on Lung Assist Devices (LADs) awaiting transplant. The two devices, the Nova Lung and the Quadrox Pediatric, were used to take over lung function for two toddlers in lung failure due to severe pulmonary hypertension.

“We are pushing the field forward with lung assist devices as a way to bridge children to lung transplant and rehabilitate them by getting them extubated, out of bed and well-nourished to optimize their post-transplant outcomes,” said David L.S. Morales, MD, surgical director of the lung transplant program.

With a total of 8 pediatric lung transplants with an average age of less than 5 years old, and with the advancement in the use of LADs, Cincinnati Children’s is already well ahead of expected growth and innovation for the program. Programmatic growth has been fueled by the willingness to transplant the smallest children.

In one instance, an infant who had been critically ill, on a ventilator, and hospitalized for months, was transferred to Cincinnati Children’s. Morales and team placed a Nova Lung to bridge the child to transplant. The “artificial lung” allowed the child to extubate, take oral nutrition, and interact with his parents for the first time in months. This child was successfully transplanted as was the first LAD patient after greater than 5 weeks of support.