Assessment for transplantation.
Patients are referred to King’s for transplantation from all over the country and abroad. The assessment for suitability for transplantation involves a brief admission to King’s and includes imaging, blood tests, lung function tests, cardiac assessment and clinical review. Once a week, patients are added to the waiting list after a multi-disciplinary meeting of surgeons, hepatologists, anaesthetists, intensive care physicians, specialist transplant nurses (transplant coordinator) and social workers.

All patients added to the list receive a comprehensive education session on the experience of liver transplantation and an information pack. Patients will meet all members of the team and will be closely linked to a transplant coordinator for the duration of their care with us. Once on the waiting list all patients attend a specialist consent clinic where a consultant surgeon explains the different processes and techniques of transplantation and acquires consent for the procedure.

Undergoing a transplant operation
When a suitable organ becomes available it is allocated to the most appropriate patient on the waiting list, who is contacted and asked to come in to the centre as soon as possible. After a brief assessment they are taken to theatre. Transplant operations take about six hours but this will vary depending on the patient. Immediately after surgery all patients are taken to the Liver Intensive Care Unit where they spend at least 24-48 hours. After leaving ITU, post transplant care is provided on Todd Ward where patients are followed up by a multi-disciplinary team. Overall, most patients are likely to be discharged three weeks after their transplant operation.

Post transplant care
Newly transplanted patients are seen in clinic at least once a week. Gradually the interval between clinic appointments becomes longer and established patients are seen every 4-6 months. Patients can always access the team outside of these appointments.

All patients take long-term anti-rejection drugs (immunosuppression) prescribed specifically for them and the levels are monitored regularly to minimise any potential side-effects.