Q
: 1
07/05/2012 |
What are the variables leading to a score that determines readiness for a liver transplant?
You need three blood tests called bilirubin, INR, and creatine that are used to calculate what's called the MELD score. This gives an idea of how advanced your liver disease is. If your score is less than 15 and you have no real problems such as bleeding, ascites or confusion, then most centers would wait until the score gets higher before listing. Most centers are transplanting patients with MELD scores of 25 or higher.
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Q
: 2
06/27/2012 |
Can you transplant a metastasized liver?
Only neuroendocrine cancers that are found only in the liver and that have been stable there for a long time. Otherwise, no.
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Q
: 3
05/19/2012 |
What is the prognosis of a liver transplant patient?
The prognoses are 85-90 percent one-year survival and about 70-75 percent five-year survival.
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Q
: 4
04/08/2012 |
I am a liver transplant patient. Is it safe to remove an enlarged spleen? I always have a low CBC and anemia.
We prefer selective embolization, which is done by intervention radiologists. We have had good success with selective splenic artery embolization and have avoided large and potentially dangerous operations in several patients.
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Q
: 5
04/06/2012 |
I had a liver transplant five years ago. A recent MRI noted fibrosis and small ascites in the pelvic region. What are the risks? Will I have to have surgery again?
You should get a biopsy of your liver and check with your liver transplant team.
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Q
: 6
02/19/2012 |
Do you or another doctor at UMMC use Hepatic Arterial Infusion?
For cancer, yes. Dr. Richard Alexander and myself install the pumps.
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Q
: 7
01/06/2012 |
How do you get on the liver transplant list and how long do you have to be sober to get on the Maryland liver transplant list?
The general rule is six months, but there are exceptions. You can be evaluated at any time.
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Q
: 8
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
: 9
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
: 10
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
: 11
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
: 12
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
: 13
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
: 14
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
: 15
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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