What to Expect During a Consultation with the Severe Lung Failure Center
When your child has severe lung failure, it can be difficult to know where to turn for answers. At Cincinnati Children’s Severe Lung Failure Center, our team brings together specialists to evaluate complex lung conditions and explore advanced treatment options when other treatments have not worked.
Children come to us from across the country and around the world for expert consultations and specialized care. Some may need prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or other advanced treatments, while others may need evaluation for a lung or heart-lung transplant.
We work closely with your child’s medical team to understand their condition, review previous treatments and determine possible next steps. Here’s what you can expect when your child is referred to our center.
Requesting a Consultation with the Severe Lung Failure Center
Because children referred to our center are critically ill and receiving care in a pediatric intensive care unit, all consultations and referrals must come through the child’s medical team. Families cannot request a consultation directly.
If you are interested in a second opinion, talk with your child’s doctors and ask them to contact the Severe Lung Failure Center through Cincinnati Children's Transfer Center. Our specialists can then review your child’s condition and discuss potential treatment options with you and your current medical team.
Your Child’s Consultation
Every child’s condition and treatment history are different. Our specialists carefully review each case to understand what treatments have been tried and whether additional options may help.
Before recommending next steps, our team works with your child’s medical team to:
- Review medical and surgical history. We learn about your child’s condition, previous treatments and response to care.
- Evaluate diagnostic tests. We review available imaging, biopsies and other test results to better understand your child’s lung condition.
- Discuss potential treatment options. Our specialists collaborate to determine whether additional therapies, advanced procedures or other approaches may help your child.
Determining the Next Steps in Care
After reviewing your child’s case, our team will discuss recommendations with their medical team. Depending on your child’s needs, there are two possible approaches:
Consultation and Treatment Recommendations
Your child may be able to remain at their current hospital while our specialists work with their medical team to explore treatment options. We can review updated imaging and clinical information as your child’s condition changes and discuss strategies to support lung healing or stabilization.
Transfer to Cincinnati Children’s
Some children may benefit from receiving care directly from our multidisciplinary Severe Lung Failure Center. If our team recommends a transfer, we will work with you and your child’s medical team to discuss potential treatments, what to expect during hospitalization and how to coordinate safe transport to Cincinnati Children’s.
Our Transport Team has experience safely transporting critically ill children, including those on ECMO. Concierge services can also help families arrange travel and accommodations.
After Your Child's Consultation with the Severe Lung Failure Center
Our collaboration with your child’s medical team continues after the initial consultation.
If your child remains at their current hospital, we can review new clinical information and discuss treatment recommendations as their condition evolves. If your child transfers to Cincinnati Children’s, our multidisciplinary team will provide specialized care and work with your family and your child’s medical team to guide treatment and recovery.
Throughout the process, our goal is to help you understand your child’s options and give them the best possible chance for survival and meaningful recovery of lung function.
