Department of Surgery
Division of Solid Organ Transplantation
Procedures
Liver Transplant Surgery
Recovery
Guide to Liver Transplant |
Your total hospital stay after surgery will likely be between one and three weeks. Immediately after surgery, you'll be taken to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), where the average post-transplant patient with no complications stays for about two days. Your primary care doctor and/or gastroenterologist will be given information about your surgery and current condition.
From the SICU you'll go to the Inpatient Transplant Unit. Here, you'll take medicines to prevent infections and rejection of your new liver. Your doctor will check for bleeding and other problems. You'll slowly start eating again. You'll begin with clear liquids, then switch to solid food as your new liver starts to work.
You'll also be prepared for your return home. You'll be given a schedule for follow-up visits and routine blood draws, and a 24-hour phone number for emergencies or other problems. You'll learn how to deal with the medicines you'll be taking and their side effects, recognize rejection symptoms, plan proper diets and generally take responsibility for your recovery at home. The transplant coordinator, social worker, and psychiatrist are all available when needed. The social worker will help arrange your discharge needs, such as rehabilitation or long-term placement, chemical dependency counseling, and transportation home. You'll also be offered a referral to a community health nurse who can help you at home.
More About the Transplant Process