This content is provided for informational purposes
only, and is not intended
to be a substitute for individual medical advice in diagnosing or treating
a
health problem. Please consult with your physician about your specific health
care concerns.
Q
: 16
10/20/2011 |
What is the routine duration of antibiotic prophylaxis for a living-liver donor? What regimens do you typically use?
We use antibiotics for 24 hours. We use the same regimen as we do for liver resections, Zosyn for broad coverage.
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Q
: 17
10/14/2011 |
My sister is waiting for a liver transplant and at her last appointment her doctor told her she has to get rid of her pets (i.e cat & bird)when she has the transplant. Is this necessary?
Its not necessary for her to give up her pets. De-clawing her cat may be a good idea because "cat scratch fever" may be fatal in a transplant recipient.
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Q
: 18
09/30/2011 |
Is a person eligible for a liver transplant if they have primary liver cancer and need it to save their life?
Under certain conditions, yes. About 10-20 percent of the liver transplants we do involve primary liver cancer
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Q
: 19
09/25/2011 |
I'm very interested in becoming a liver donor, but I've started to think that I'm not eligible since I have Bipolar II disorder. I am on medication and have had no problems since starting it, but in most of the material I've read
donors have to be free from psychiatric disorders. I just wanted to confirm that this in fact true and that there aren't exceptions. Also, is it possible to donate without directing your liver to a family member or friend?
You are correct in that people with psychiatric disorders are often ineligible as living donors. Altruistic donors do exist, even with liver transplantation.
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Q
: 20
09/15/2011 |
I would like to know what determines who gets a kidney transplant. I've heard there's a waiting list, but I've also heard that there is a certain screening on who gets the organ based even on mental health. Is that true?
Anyone with renal failure is a potential candidate. The screening process involves stratifying the risks and assessing how likely that person is to take care of their kidney and be compliant with medication. Psychiatric history does not preclude you from going on the list.
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Q
: 21
08/26/2011 |
My friend has been turned down for a transplant because she has been diagnosed with HPV. Is there anywhere she can go or anything she can do? She already has a willing and ready donor.
Your friend should get a second opinion at a large transplant center. HPV can be controlled or eradicated and we have transplanted some patients in the past with HPV.
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Q
: 22
08/25/2011 |
Can a person receive a kidney transplant without getting a fistula put in the arm and having dialysis?
Yes. That is the preferred way. We call this pre-emptive transplantation. Timing is key. About 10 percent of transplants in the country are done before dialysis.
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Q
: 23
08/20/2011 |
Reading information on transplants has been very informative, such as learning what the term "87 percent sensitized" means. However, I've been unable to find a definition or the meaning of the term "2ab match."
2 antigen match means that you have 2 out of 6 tested antigens or proteins that we look at that are the same as the donor's.
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Q
: 24
07/29/2011 |
My father-in-law has cirrhosis and his doctor suggested a liver transplant. Is there any other treatment that he could try to avoid surgery?
No other treatment that can reverse cirrhosis.
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Q
: 25
07/13/2011 |
Can a kidney transplant patient take multivitamins in addition to their regular immunosuppressant medicines?
Multivitamins should not be problematic.
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Q
: 26
07/06/2011 |
My best friend has just been diagnosed with a tumor in her pancreas that is cancerous. Her doctor has said the cancer has not spread to any other organs. If someone has a cancerous tumor in their pancreas, are they able to have a pancreas transplant?
Pancreas transplants are not done for cancer. They are done for Type 1 diabetes. If she has a pancreatic cancer and it has not spread, then she may be a candidate for a surgical resection.
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Q
: 27
06/12/2011 |
Once a liver has been cleared for transplant, how long can we keep it alive without doing any damages?
A liver can be kept on ice for up to 12 hours. Stretching it beyond that increases the risk for it not working. Usually however it takes about 24 hours to eventually procure the organs once a donor has been identified, so there is time to bring potential patients in the hospital and prepare them for transplant.
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Q
: 28
05/18/2011 |
Can a patient receive both a liver and a kidney transplant at the same time?
Yes. This is performed about 20 percent of the time.
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Q
: 29
05/13/2011 |
Can a person with stage 2 cirrhosis receive a partial live liver transplant?
If it is stage 2 fibrosis, that is not cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is stage 4. And yes, someone with cirrhosis can be a partial live liver transplant recipient.
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Q
: 30
04/26/2011 |
I have researched the pros and cons of liver donation and am very interested in becoming a donor. The thing is, I do not know anyone that needs a liver. I really don't care who it goes to as long as it is someone in need. Is there a source a non-family or friend donor can go to so they can donate? I am finishing my paramedic training so the
donation would be about a year off, but I would like to start getting the ball rolling. Thanks for
any information you can provide.
Altruistic donation occurs across the country and it is truly an amazing gift. Altruistic liver donation is rarer than kidney donation because of the complexity and caliber of the liver donor operation. Because of this, people go through more rigorous testing to become a donor.
There are several centers you can contact and inquire about their policies.
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