Services & Specialties

End-stage Lung Failure Program

Trusted Care for Children With End-stage Lung Failure

When your child has end-stage lung failure, it can feel overwhelming and uncertain. You want clear answers and a team you can trust.

At Cincinnati Children's, we treat rare and complex conditions like refractory respiratory failure, severe pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Our advanced methods of care can provide new hope for kids who seemingly have no other options.

Here we can determine whether patients can either recover from lung failure if critically ill, or if they need to be bridged to lung transplantation. Our team assesses patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

This program is the first in the country to focus on a comprehensive strategy for end-stage lung failure of all forms in children of all ages.

Program Expertise and Care Approach for End-stage Lung Failure

Nationally Recognized Expertise

Cincinnati Children’s is ranked among the best children’s hospitals for more than 15 years by U.S. News & World Report. Our specialists care for some of the most complex lung failure cases, often when other centers have reached their limits. We have unique experience caring for patients who are critically ill, including both those who have qualified for a transplant, as well as those who have not. We regularly work with children who need respiratory support such as mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal life support (ECMO). Our specialists develop new therapies based on science to offer additional care alternatives.

Advanced Life-Support Treatments

We provide comprehensive extracorporeal cardiopulmonary support, which supports the heart and lungs outside the body. Our team also uses an innovative approach to tools like the paracorporeal lung assist device (PLAD) to support long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

These options can help stabilize your child, improve strength, and create a path to transplant or recovery.

Team-Based, Personalized Care

Your child is cared for by a team-based care model that includes specialists from many areas. Together, we create one clear plan tailored to your child.

We also provide a personalized care plan that includes medical treatment, nutrition, physical therapy, and emotional support. This helps your child stay as strong as possible during treatment.

Support for Families Traveling Far

Families come to us from across the U.S. and around the world. Our team helps coordinate care and supports travel needs, making a complex process easier for your family.

Our highly skilled Transport Team is able to transport severely ill patients, even those on ECMO, to Cincinnati Children’s if determined that is necessary.

Dedicated Support Throughout Care

Our dedicated pulmonary pathologist specializes in diagnosing rare pulmonary illnesses. This is sometimes the key that helps unlock a new, more effective clinical strategy for our patients. Additionally, each family works with a dedicated nurse coordinator who helps schedule visits, answers questions, and keeps care organized. This support begins early and continues through every stage of treatment.

Whole-Child Rehabilitation Support

Care includes physical, nutritional, and emotional rehabilitation. This whole-child approach helps improve strength, recovery, and overall well-being during and after treatment.

Expert Second Opinions

Families can request second opinions to better understand their child’s condition and treatment options. Our team reviews records and provides clear guidance to help you make informed decisions.