Transplant Center

For Patients & Families

Overview
Providers
Clinical Trials
Diseases & Conditions

Evalutation | Waiting List | Surgery | After Transplant

Overview

Pre-Liver Transplant Handbook (printable)

Liver University Health Care’s Liver Transplant team is committed to helping patients and families navigate the complex journey of liver transplantation. The Liver Transplant Team gives each patient a thorough evaluation to determine whether transplantation is the right option. Liver disease is a complicated illness and the Liver Transplant team takes a multidisciplinary approach, providing patients access to a team of health care professionals experienced in all medical and surgical aspects of transplantation.

Evaluation

The evaluation is usually done on an outpatient basis unless you are critically ill and require hospitalization. In addition to meeting with members of the liver transplant team, during the evaluation you will have appointments with other specialists and undergo a number of pre-transplant tests. The pre-transplant tests, as well as giving a clear picture of the patient's overall health status, helps in identifying potential problems before they occur. They also help in determining whether transplantation is truly the best option and increases the likelihood of success.

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Waiting List

After all of your information has been reviewed by the Selection Conference and the recommendations have been completed and it has been determined that you are an acceptable candidate, and we have received authorization from your insurance company and the hospital financial department, we can then proceed to place you on the waiting list. If accepted as a transplant candidate, your name will be placed on the UNOS waitlist at the University Health Care. There is an expectation that you will be followed by your cardiologist while awaiting your heart transplant.

Waiting times

Waiting times depend on your blood type, the severity of your illness, body size and the number of donors available and are therefore difficult to predict. If you have questions regarding your waiting time once you are listed, please talk to your transplant coordinator.

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Surgery

While you wait for your transplant, you will carry a beeper or a cell phone. When a liver becomes available, a nurse coordinator will contact you and instruct you on next steps. You will be admitted to the hospital and the transplant staff will guide you in your preparation for surgery.

For living donors and recipients, the surgery can be planned.

The surgery can take from 6 to 12 hours, depending on the patient’s medical condition and previous surgeries. After surgery, the patient goes to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), usually for 24 to 48 hours. The expected length of hospital stay for an uncomplicated liver transplant is 7 days.

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After Transplant

You will begin learning all about your new liver, how to take care of it, how to prevent infection, your medications, and your clinic and lab schedule. The coordinators, pharmacists and nurses will teach you how to take care of yourself now that you have your new liver. You will receive a Post Transplant Manual. THIS IS YOUR LIFE LONG GUIDE. The Transplant Coordinator will come to your room to review the content of the manual, answer questions, and review your medications.

Patients will be seen as needed in the outpatient clinic. Communicating with the your primary care physician is an important pat of the transition and the Liver Transplant team is available to answer any questions that may arise.

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Linda S. Book, M.D.

Locations

Primary Children's Medical Center

(801) 662-2900

Specialties: Endoscopy, Hepatology, Liver Biopsies, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Terry D. Box, M.D.

Locations

University Hospital	(801) 581-2634
University Hospital	(801) 581-5100

Specialties: Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Liver Biopsies, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant

Paul J. Campsen, M.D.

Locations

Huntsman Cancer Hospital	(801) 585-2708
University Hospital	(801) 585-2708
University Hospital	(801) 581-2634

Specialties: Hepatopancreatobiliary (Liver/Pancreas/Biliary) Surgery, Kidney Transplant, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Pancreas Transplant, Renal Transplantation, Surgery, General

Juan F. Gallegos-Orozco, M.D.

Locations

University Hospital

(801) 581-7802

Specialties: Gastroenterology, Liver Biopsies, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant

Curt H. Hagedorn, M.D.

Locations

Huntsman Cancer Institute	(801) 585-5724
University Hospital	(801) 585-5724
University Hospital	(801) 581-2020

Specialties: Endoscopy, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant

M. Kyle Jensen, M.D.

Locations

PCMC Outpatient Services at Riverton	(801) 662-2900
Primary Children's Medical Center	(801) 662-2900

Specialties: Endoscopy, Hepatology, Liver Biopsies, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Hepatology

Robin D. Kim, M.D.

Locations

Huntsman Cancer Hospital	(801) 585-6140
Primary Children's Medical Center	(801) 585-6140
University Hospital	(801) 585-6320

Specialties: Hepatopancreatobiliary (Liver/Pancreas/Biliary) Surgery, Kidney Transplant, Liver Cancer, Liver Disease, Liver Transplant, Surgery, General, Transplant Surgery

John B. Sorensen, M.D.

Locations

Huntsman Cancer Institute	(801) 587-4422
University Hospital	(801) 581-2634
University Hospital	(801) 585-2816

Specialties: Hepatopancreatobiliary (Liver/Pancreas/Biliary) Surgery, Kidney Transplant, Liver Transplant, Renal Transplantation, Surgery, General, Transplant Surgery