Surgery Process For Our Liver Transplant Patients
What to expect before, during, and after your surgical procedure.
Before
Before your liver transplant surgery, your doctor may require additional tests and check your overall health. You will also receive specific individualized instructions about preparing for surgery.
When donor organs become available, your transplant surgeon will schedule the procedure.
Timing
How quickly you proceed to surgery will be determined by many factors, including the arrival of the donor liver, the time for crossmatch testing, and your need for dialysis or additional testing before surgery.
Surgical Procedure
The surgery time varies with each patient, but typically is between four and six hours. After the procedure, you will spend time in the recovery care unit, followed by at least one night in surgical intensive care. Adult patients will stay at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s specialized transplant unit, while children will be in the comfortable surroundings of our pediatric intensive care unit at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Many patients return to the operating room for a planned smaller procedure a day or two after surgery to fully close the belly.
Recovery
Most transplant patients are able to start eating and drinking on the first day after surgery. You will be assisted in taking your first walk after surgery, and will be expected to increase your amount of activity every day to prevent complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. Meanwhile, your doctor and nursing team will take blood and urine samples to evaluate the health of your new liver. A transplant pharmacist will meet with you and your family to discuss your new medications.
Learn more about our intestinal rehabilitation program.
Follow-up Care
Most adult liver transplant patients are discharged ten to twelve days after surgery, while children may spend several days longer in the hospital. Some patients may be required to stay longer. You will receive instructions about what to do when you return home, along with the date and time of a follow-up appointment with your transplant care team at the institute.
Before
Before your liver transplant surgery, your doctor may require additional tests and check your overall health. You will also receive specific individualized instructions about preparing for surgery.
When donor organs become available, your transplant surgeon will schedule the procedure.
Timing
How quickly you proceed to surgery will be determined by many factors, including the arrival of the donor liver, the time for crossmatch testing, and your need for dialysis or additional testing before surgery.
Surgical Procedure
The surgery time varies with each patient, but typically is between four and six hours. After the procedure, you will spend time in the recovery care unit, followed by at least one night in surgical intensive care. Adult patients will stay at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s specialized transplant unit, while children will be in the comfortable surroundings of our pediatric intensive care unit at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Many patients return to the operating room for a planned smaller procedure a day or two after surgery to fully close the belly.
Recovery
Most transplant patients are able to start eating and drinking on the first day after surgery. You will be assisted in taking your first walk after surgery, and will be expected to increase your amount of activity every day to prevent complications such as pneumonia and blood clots. Meanwhile, your doctor and nursing team will take blood and urine samples to evaluate the health of your new liver. A transplant pharmacist will meet with you and your family to discuss your new medications.
Learn more about our intestinal rehabilitation program.
Follow-up Care
Most adult liver transplant patients are discharged ten to twelve days after surgery, while children may spend several days longer in the hospital. Some patients may be required to stay longer. You will receive instructions about what to do when you return home, along with the date and time of a follow-up appointment with your transplant care team at the institute.
