Returning Home After Pediatric Liver Transplantation
Getting Ready to Go Home
Once you return home, the doctor who referred you to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will help with your child's care. That doctor will see your child frequently at first to keep up with the recovery. Eventually, your visits will be spread out to monthly, then every three months.
If your child has a primary gastroenterologist (liver doctor) in your hometown, you only need to return to Cincinnati every three months to see the transplant liver doctor. However, you will need to return to Cincinnati more frequently if you do not have a primary gastroenterologist in your hometown, or if your child has complications or surgical issues that need to be addressed. You will also need to regularly keep in touch with your child's primary care physician.
As part of our initiative to pursue perfect care, the Pediatric Liver Care Center at Cincinnati Children's provides families with online access to important health information about your child. Access is provided through an internet site called the Liver Care Portal.
The first year can be trying, depending upon how well your child progresses. However, the Liver Transplant Team strives to make the transition from Cincinnati Children's to your home as smooth as possible.
We are always available to answer questions and will continue our partnership in providing the support necessary for you and your child.
At Home Care
Once you return home, your child should:
- Call the liver transplant coordinator and/or doctor if your child has a fever greater than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) under the arm or by mouth.
- Call the liver transplant coordinator and/or doctor if your child has vomiting, diarrhea and/or rash.
- Call the liver transplant coordinator and/or doctor if your child is exposed to any contagious diseases such as chickenpox, shingles, mono, measles, mumps, RSV, whooping cough and / or meningitis.
- Avoid crowds. Your child should wear a mask outside your home for the first 90 days after the transplant.
- Your child should return to school only after 90 days have passed since his or her transplant.
- Your child should avoid contact with people who have cold / illness symptoms.
- Enforce proper hand washing for you, your child, family and visitors.
- Call the liver transplant coordinator during normal business hours if your child is scheduled to see a dentist or have a dental procedure performed.
- Avoid the sun! When your child is in the sun, use sunscreen generously. The medicines your child is on will make your child very sensitive to sunburn. There is also an increased risk of skin cancer because of immunosuppression.
- Call the liver transplant coordinator before any physician administers vaccinations to your child or your child's siblings.
- Your child should avoid swimming in ponds, lakes, rivers and the wading pools at public pools.
- The transplant team's preference is that your child not attend day care until completely toilet trained.
rev. 6/07
