Navigating School Reentry in Lung Transplant Recipients With Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

In addition to medical and psychological support, social support plays a key role in the success of lung transplant recipients, especially in children. An important component of that social support for pediatric lung transplant recipients is school reentry. These children face daily challenges, which often have to be addressed by the transplant team with little existing guidance in the medical literature. In this article, we discuss relevant practice issues for pediatric lung transplant recipients with cystic fibrosis including heightened concern for infection risk, bullying, school performance, and body image concerns. In addition to discussing these important issues, we provide recommendations based on our experiences.