Patient Story: Undergoing a Lung Transplant

Liesbeth Stoeffler, a patient with cystic fibrosis, describes her experience of undergoing a lung transplant at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Liesbeth's story is unusual because while waiting for a lung to become available, she took a sudden turn for the worse and was put in the ICU on a ventilator. In order to regain her health and maintain her ability to stay on the transplant waiting list, doctors put her on a machine known as an ECMO, which she stayed on for the unusually long period of 18 days. Her strength returned; a lung eventually became available; and Liesbeth was able to undergo a lung transplant.

The ECMO machine functions like a lung. Blood is drained from the patient into the machine; the machine adds oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the blood; and blood is put back into the patient's body.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Liesbeth Stoeffler
• lung transplant
• cystic fibrosis

[howlandexcavating]

A truly amazing group of doctors & support staff. My father recieved a lung transplant under the care of Dr Wilt. She is a true angel, & we will never forget the gift Dr Wilt & her staff has given our family. Because of the distance we have to travel, it's never a welcome commute to clinic. However we always enjoy meeting with Dr Wilt, & P.A. Riley, they are wonderful people.

[viewer7632]

Amazing story! Inspiring video. And of course, a great patient...