Because of your antirejection medication, your body may be more susceptible to infection , especially right after surgery. Symptoms of infection include fevers, weakness, fatigue, blood count changes, and healing problems with your incision. While it is not necessary to avoid contact with people in general, we do encourage you to avoid being around people who are sick, or large groups of people, particularly children. If you are exposed to illnesses, in particular chicken pox, let your transplant nurse know right away. There are both vaccination and treatment options available which can be effective if started as soon as possible.
Rejection is another possible complication, especially during the first three months after surgery.
Rejection occurs when your body's immune system makes cells which attack the new liver. Since you generally would not be aware that a rejection episode is occurring, your blood tests are important in picking up early signs of rejection or infection. If we suspect a rejection episode, we may have to biopsy your liver. A biopsy can often be performed outpatient, with results available within 3 to 4 hours. If we determine that you are having a rejection episode, you will most likely be given one intravenous dose of solomedrol each day for 3 days.