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Liver Transplant Evaluation and Assessment Guide

The Donor

Individuals with irreversible liver failure are offered hope through liver transplantation. A liver is matched between a donor and recipient based mainly on the MELD score of the recipient, the blood group and body size. When the transplant team are notified of a potential organ donation, the doctors discuss who will be the best match for the organ based on these things. The length of time that someone has been waiting does not factor in these decisions.

The donated liver will come from a person who has died in an Intensive Care Unit. The family of the donor will have authorised and consented to  proceed with organ donation on behalf of their deceased relative.

Organ donation only ever occurs after a patient has died in an Intensive Care Unit in a hospital. Death can be declared by the neurological determination of death (when the brain has died) or after circulatory death (when the heart has stopped).

Before donation occurs, the donor is assessed medically and screened for transmissible disease.

Care for the donor and their family throughout this process is provided by the doctors and nurses in Intensive Care, social workers and the DonateLife donor coordinators who are specially trained intensive care nurses.

These donations are made possible only by the generosity of families during a difficult time for their family. You can show your respect for the donor and family by caring for your transplant liver for the rest of your life to the best of your ability.

In this guide:

  1. Information and contact details for the liver transplant hepatology team
  2. The liver - its function and anatomy
  3. Signs of liver disease
  4. Pre-transplant assessment and evaluation
  5. The assessment team
  6. Allied Health Services
  7. Palliative care
  8. Pharmacy—medications before your transplant
  9. Case discussion and assessment presentation
  10. Will I make the list?
  11. The liver transplant waiting list
  12. Model for End stage Liver Disease (MELD)
  13. Support Through Education Program (STEP)
  14. The Donor
  15. What happens when you are notified that a donor liver is available?
  16. The liver transplant operation
  17. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patient information
  18. The recovery period
  19. Pharmacy—medications after your transplant
  20. Rejection
  21. Donor family correspondence and information
  22. Glossary

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Last updated:
25 November 2022
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