As a transplant candidate, a number of tests will be completed during the evaluation to discover if there are potential problems with other organs such as the heart, kidneys, or lungs, the degree of damage to the liver, and whether or not transplantation is the best option for you. Most evaluations are done on an outpatient basis over several days. Upon completion of the evaluation, your case will be discussed by all transplant team members who will decide if transplantation is the best treatment option for you. If that decision is yes, your transplant coordinator will then have a discussion with you about the surgery, risks, care after surgery, and the long-term implications of transplantation. If your medical team and you agree that liver transplantation is the best treatment option, there will be a waiting period for a compatible donor liver to become available.
Priority is given to the sickest patients.
Non-medical factors such as race, occupation, or economic status play NO role in patient selection. In order for a donor liver to be a favorable match, the donor's blood type, body size, and liver size must match yours. LifeLink, the organ and tissue recovery agency, will coordinate efforts to find a suitable donor. The transplant coordinator will provide you with a beeper so that you can be reached easily when a donor liver becomes available. It is important that we are able to contact you, and that your transportation to the hospital is pre-arranged.