Where do I go after my surgery?
After your transplant surgery, you will go to the intensive care unit (ICU). How much time you spend in the ICU is different for everyone.
You will be connected to a breathing machine, called a ventilator. You will not be able to talk while the breathing tube is in place. Once you are stong enough and able to breathe on your own, your breathing tube will be removed.
When you are stable, you will be transferred out of ICU to an inpatient unit.
What can I do in the hospital after my surgery to help with my recovery?
- Follow the instructions of your healthcare team.
- Ask for medicine when you are in pain.
- Practice deep breathing and coughing techniques. It is important to use your incentive spirometer every hour while you are awake. This helps to prevent lung collapse and pneumonia. Your healthcare team will teach you how to use the incentive spirometer.
- Change positions in bed and keep moving your arms and legs. Moving helps to prevent problems like pneumonia, bowel problems, and blood clots.
- Make sure you talk with your bedside nurse about how to move safely with your lines and tubes in place.
- Work with the physiotherapist and nurses to help regain your strength.
- Work with the occupational therapist to help you get back to your daily activities.
- Tell your nurses and transplant team right away if you notice any changes.
You and your support person will have multiple teaching sessions in the hospital to get you ready for discharge.
Your healthcare team will teach you about your medicines and you will start giving yourself the medicines with directions from the nurses. This will help you become familiar with the number of new medicines you will need to take at home by yourself.
If you have mental health issues like depression or anxiety, it’s possible that these may get worse after your transplant. Your post-transplant team can refer you to a mental health specialist if needed. Visit
Help in Tough Times for a list of resources that you can access when you’re feeling stressed or are having a difficult time.
When will I be able to leave the hospital?
After a liver transplant, everyone stays in the hospital for a different amount of time.
You will leave the hospital when:
What do I need to do on the day I leave the hospital (day of discharge)?
On the day you leave the hospital, make sure that you have:
- picked up your medicines and reviewed them with your transplant team
- received new lab requisitions and information about where and when to get your lab tests done
- received follow-up appointment information
- reviewed your After Visit Summary (AVS) with your nurse or transplant coordinator
Your support person must be available to drive you from the hospital.
Make sure you have the following items:
- weigh scale
- thermometer that measures in Celsius
- blood pressure monitoring machine
- blood glucose monitoring machine (if needed)
- notebook, app, or computer document to record your temperature, weight, and blood pressure
