The goal is to create a practical plan that fits the patient's lifestyle and helps him or her live a healthy life. All members of the transplant team, including specialists in hepatology, infectious disease, anesthesiology, social services, along with the transplant surgeons, meet to review a patient's candidacy for transplant. This process is known as the selection conference. The group determines whether a candidate is suitable for a transplant. Physicians will have discussed the long-term implications of liver transplantation with the patient and their family.
Transplantation requires a life-long commitment by the patient and family.
This commitment includes taking medications each day, visiting a physician regularly, eating a proper diet, maintaining an exercise program and avoiding infections. At this time, education of the patient and family about patient requirements, responsibilities and expectations prior to and following liver transplant surgery begins. Patient and family education is an ongoing process, as the patient's understanding and compliance are essential to a successful transplant outcome. Even though the patient is on the waiting list for transplantation, the disease process continues and must be dealt with every day. A waiting period of anywhere from a few days to several months can be expected.