Liver Transplant
For those patients suffering from end-stage liver diseases and cancers, there is hope through transplantation. Liver transplantation at University Medical Center has been improving and extending lives for more than 15 years. Our transplant team specializes in extended criteria donors and living donation, providing those with end-stage liver disease opportunities to receive organs that may otherwise not be available. Our level of experience allows the liver transplant program to accept high-risk patients that may be turned down at other institutions.
The UMC liver transplant team partners with the Arizona Liver Research Institute on the University of Arizona campus, offering the UMC liver transplant team the unrivaled ability to transfer cutting edge technology directly to patient care. Beyond transplantation, UMC through the Arizona Liver Research Institute can also offer patients access to clinical trials. The Liver Research Institute is dedicated to curing those debilitating diseases that affect our patients.
Why do I need a Liver Transplant?
Liver transplantation is most commonly indicated for those people suffering from the following diseases:
- Hepatitis C
- EtOH, or cirrhosis due to alcohol
- Autoimmune diseases
- Biliary Atresia (rare condition in infants in which the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is blocked or absent)
Specialized Services
Hepatopancreaticobiliary Disease Center provides a multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of liver, pancreatic and biliary system disorders.
Procedures
Liver transplant is a complex and in-depth procedure. At UMC, our interest is with the patient, and as such, we require specific testing to make sure that transplant is the very best option for the patient. A patient that is referred to the liver transplant program at UMC can expect to undergo the following procedures for transplant surgery clearance:
- Lab work - used to check the function of the liver, and also to rule out viruses in the body
- Chest X-ray
- An abdominal ultrasound, CT or MRI
- Cardiac Echocardiogram and EKG - used to check heart function
- Radiological Dental Clearance
- An appointment with the transplant social worker
If you are a woman, you will also be required to have an annual pap smear. In addition, women over 50 will need to have an annual mammogram. The results of the above tests may require further testing to make sure transplantation is the best possible option for a patient.
Liver Failure
To learn more about liver failure, please visit the American Liver Foundation.
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