Life after a Liver Transplant

Ricardo Martinez underwent a combined liver and small intestine transplant

The length of hospitalization after a pediatric liver transplant will vary, depending on your child.

• A typical hospital stay for school-age children is seven to 10 days. 
• Infants are usually hospitalized for two to three weeks following the transplantation.

Your child will be placed on immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection of the transplanted liver. These drugs help to fight off rejection, but they also leave your child vulnerable to infections. We will continuously monitor your child for signs and symptoms of infection. Our doctors may also examine a sample of cells or tissues (perform a liver biopsy) to check for signs of rejection.
 
Our liver transplant team also monitors your child for signs of bleeding and other potential postoperative complications.
 

What Happens after My Child Leaves the Hospital?

Our pediatric liver transplant doctors and nurses and your child’s local doctor will monitor your child after discharge from the hospital.
 
Initially, your child will visit the Pediatric Liver Transplant Clinic twice a week for laboratory work and doctor visits. As recovery progresses, these visits become less frequent.
 
Our team will continue to be a part of follow-up care even after your child is able to return home. To make it easier for families, the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program runs outreach clinics throughout the western United States.
 

 

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