Preparing for a Liver Transplant

Preparing for a Liver Transplantation

Preparing for a liver transplant. After your child is referred to Cincinnati Children's, he or she will be scheduled for an evaluation.

It may take three to four weeks to get an appointment with multiple members of the Liver Transplant Team and to schedule necessary tests or X-rays. We do our best to schedule the evaluation as soon as we can. In cases of sudden liver failure (fulminant hepatic failure) or other urgent situations, the evaluation is scheduled as soon as possible and may be done in the intensive care unit or on the transplant floor.

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About the Evaluation

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The purpose of the evaluation is to:

Introduce you to all members of the liver transplant team
Confirm the diagnosis of the liver disease (In most cases, the referring doctor already has made a diagnosis.)
Determine how severe the liver disease is to select the options for management, which may include liver transplantation, and determine the urgency of the need for transplantation
Inform you and your family about the liver disease, the transplant operation and risks and benefits

Pre-Transplant Patient Evaluation

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Talking with Your Child About Liver Transplantation

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It can be challenging as parents to know how to best support your child during the stressful and hopeful period of transplantation. We will provide you with the "Pediatric Liver Transplantation Booklet for Parents and Their Children," written by a specialist from the Child Life Department at Cincinnati Children's.

The focus of the information in this booklet is to help parents help their children understand and cope with the various phases of their diagnosis and treatment. Hopefully, this information will help you feel more confident during this challenging time.

Last Updated 01/2016