Health Information

How is the pre-transplant evaluation?

Liver transplantation is a highly complex, requiring a full assessment of the patient. Are asked a series of blood tests, studies to objectify the status of cardiovascular and respiratory system with X-rays and other studies, sometimes invasive. You need a detailed imaging study liver and blood vessels with a Doppler ultrasound and/or MRI.

Usually requested an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy sometimes. The candidate is also evaluated by other specialists involved in the transplant group, as a psychiatrist and psychologist, social worker, cardiologist, infectious disease specialist, neurologist, anesthesiologist and others as needed.

What are the contraindications for liver transplantation?

Each transplant center has its own policies. Some situations that were previously considered to exclude the possibility of transplantation, including infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, AIDS virus), are no longer considered absolute contraindications. However, some conditions that are usually considered contraindications for transplantation include:

- Elderly (in many places over 65 years).
- Presence of other serious diseases like cancer, heart or respiratory failure.
- Uncontrolled infections.
- Heavy alcohol consumption in the 6 months prior to transplantation.
- What determines the order in which each person gets an organ?

This varies from country to country. The organs are transplanted into people with blood group compatibility. Theoretically you should respect two principles: justice (sickest patient first, it is most needed) and welfare (the organs should be distributed so as to obtain the greatest overall benefit.) In Chile, the priority is given by the time the person carries on the waiting list, no matter how sick is the person, with certain exceptions such as fulminant liver failure and some situations significant worsening of a patient. In other countries like the United States, makes a graduation of the severity of patients with MELD scale and determining the order so that the sickest patients receive an organ first.

How can I know if I need a transplant?

To evaluate this possibility should discuss this with your doctor. If he is not familiar with the process, you may wish to request an assessment directly to a transplant center with availability.

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