Liver Transplant

We recognize that preparing for a transplant and living with it will affect your life in many ways. So we get to know you well, and we’ll help you maintain and resume many of your activities and even become involved in new ones.

Our definition of success extends far beyond the operating room. We commit the time and resources to making your life after the transplant itself as successful as possible.

We aim to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible for patients and their families. For patients traveling from out of town, we have partnerships with local organizations that provide your family with affordable places to stay, such as the Hope Lodge and Harbor House.

Our liver transplant team includes:

• Transplant surgeons who perform your liver transplant procedure
• Hepatologists who take care of your liver before and after surgery
• Pharmacists who dispense medication and answer questions
• Psychiatrist who takes care of your mental and emotional health
• Social worker who helps you and your family understand and process your diagnosis
• Transplant coordinator who helps you understand and navigate the transplant process
• Dieticians who help ensure you’re getting proper nutrition and educate you on the type of diet you may need to follow
• Transplant ID physicians who prevent and treat infectious complications in pre- and post-transplant patients
• Patients themselves, who are important members of their care team. You will be kept up-to-date about your treatment and be involved in the decision-making.

Who Needs a Liver Transplant?

You may be a candidate if you have progressive liver disease such as:

• Acute liver failure (sudden loss of liver function)

• Cirrhosis from hepatitis, alcohol or other causes

• Liver cancer or other life-threatening conditions

• Complications from portal hypertension, including high blood pressure in the liver’s blood vessels

Providers use tools like MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) and PELD scores to evaluate transplant urgency.

URochester Medicine was one of the first two centers in the nation to offer liver transplants for select patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver.

URochester Medicine founded the biopsychosocial model, which treats the whole patient rather than just disease. We consider all your life circumstances, personalizing your treatment based on what’s best for you. This includes providing a transplant psychiatrist and social worker who look after your mental and emotional health.

You can see the excellent outcomes of our transplantation program by visiting the following websites:

• United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
• Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients