Liver transplant

The liver, one of the body's largest organs, supports nearly every other organ in the body. It plays a key role in digestion, regulating metabolism and detoxifying the body of harmful substances.

Because of its importance, a total liver transplant is one of the only ways to compensate for the loss of a liver. When the liver has become damaged beyond possible regeneration or is starting to deteriorate quickly, doctors may recommend a transplant.

When it comes to a transplant, earlier is better. Patients who are in liver failure may consider discussing a transplant with their doctor. This allows our doctors to work with you during the early stages of your disease, so you can be evaluated and start learning about the transplant process, should you need one.

Although you may not immediately qualify for a transplant, starting the process sooner promotes seamless integration into the transplant program, if and when the time comes.

Once your doctor has recommended a transplant as a potential treatment, you can start the transplant process. These steps may vary from hospital to hospital, however, in general, the process will be as follows:

• Evaluation — During an evaluation, your doctors will perform an assessment of your liver health, overall physical health and mental health.
• Finding a donor — Once you have been approved for a transplant, the next step is finding a donor. For liver transplants, the most common type of donor is deceased donor donation. Your doctors will run many tests so they can find a new liver that is compatible with your body, leaving the lowest chance for the body to reject the new organ.
• Transplant surgery — Once a donor has been found, your transplant team will schedule your surgery where the diseased liver will be replaced with a healthy, functioning liver. The time between finding the donor and scheduling the surgery is often short, as the new organ needs to be transplanted quickly.
• Transplant recovery — After your transplant surgery, your doctors will work with you — both short-term and long term — to ensure the success of your transplant. They will discuss medications with you and provide education on lifestyle changes that may be needed to maintain your health.

A transplant is a complex process that requires extensive knowledge about the liver, the transplant surgery and the rest of the body's ability to compensate throughout the process. Because of this, an extremely specialized team is required to ensure a transplant is successful. At HCA Florida, we've assembled those teams.

Think of your transplant team as a personalized support group, ready to stand by your side throughout this journey. Our doctors understand that this process can be overwhelming at times, which is why their goal is to make sure you feel comfortable and secure with your plan, every step of the way.

Your liver transplant team will include a:

• Liver disease specialist
• Liver transplant specialist
• Transplant surgeon
• Transplant pharmacist
• Social worker
• Clinical coordinator