ON DEMAND 2024 APRN Midwest Conference - Lung Transplantation: What Should you Know About the Management and Medications

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the current trends in lung transplant management and the medications used for immunosuppression after lung transplantation. The first lung transplant took place in 1963 and since then the advancement in immunosuppression therapy and vigilant post-lung transplant care have been the key elements of the ongoing success of lung transplantation. This success has translated into improved survival post-lung transplant. The cornerstone of immunosuppression therapy typically consists of a Calcineurin Inhibitor, Anti-Proliferative, and a Corticosteroid (Lvulich et al., 2018). However, co-stimulation blockers and mTOR inhibitors used in other solid organ transplants are also being used in lung transplantation (Chandrashekarab et al., 2018). The ImmuKnow immune cell function assay is encouraged to be used to measure the net impact of immunosuppressants on the immune system to predict an increased risk for infection or rejection thus assisting in diagnosis and medication dose adjustment (Chandrashekarab et al., 2018). While Acute Cellular Rejection (ACR) and Antibody-Mediated Rejection (AMR) remain a concern, Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD) continues to limit long-term survival post-lung transplantation (Snell et al., 2013). In ACR, T cells get activated and migrate to the lung allograft causing graft dysfunction whereas in AMR, antibodies are formed against the donor HLA which activates the complement system that damages the graft. However, CLAD develops over time, causing scarring of the lung allograft and deterioration of the pulmonary function test (Snell et al., 2013). 

• Understand Indications and Selection Criteria for Lung Transplant: Equip healthcare providers with the knowledge to identify and evaluate potential candidates for lung transplantation, including understanding the specific indications, absolute contraindications, and high-risk factors that impact patient selection.

• Manage Post-Lung Transplant Patients: Develop skills in managing patients after lung transplantation, focusing on post-operative care such as monitoring oxygenation, airway clearance, pain management, and recognizing common complications.

• Administer and Monitor Immunosuppressive Therapy: Train healthcare providers to effectively administer and monitor immunosuppressive therapy in lung transplant recipients, including understanding different phases of immunosuppression, the drugs used in each phase, their side effects, and how to manage these effects to prevent graft rejection.

Learning Outcome Evaluation: Participants will state one thing they learned from the program and how they will implement it into their practice. 

The Illinois Nurses Foundation and the Illinois Society for Advanced Practice Nursing jointly provided this program.

To earn contact hours, learners must watch the entire webinar and submit an evaluation to receive the digital certificate after the session.

There are no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved with the ability to control the content of this activity