What is a liver transplant?

A liver transplant is surgery to give your child a healthy liver from another person. Your child may get a whole new liver or just part of a new liver. The new liver may come from someone you know. Or it may come from a stranger or a person who has died. If your child is waiting for a liver from a non-related donor, your child will be placed on a national waiting list until a new liver becomes available. The wait can be for as long as a few years. During that time, your doctor will update the transplant team about your child's condition. When you get a call from the transplant team, you'll need to bring your child to the hospital right away.

To do the surgery, the doctor makes a cut (incision) in your child's upper belly. Then the doctor removes the liver. Next, the doctor connects the blood vessels of the new liver to your child's blood vessels. The doctor also connects the bile duct of the new liver to your child's bile duct. Then the doctor closes the incision with stitches or staples. The stitches may be the type that dissolve in the body over time. If not, the doctor will take them out a few weeks after surgery. The incision will leave a scar that will fade with time.

After surgery, the new liver will start to do the work that your child's old liver could not.

Your child will probably spend at least a couple of weeks in the hospital. Your child will go back for frequent checkups for about a month after that. Most children are able to go back to school in about 2 to 3 months. Your transplant team will give you a follow-up schedule.

What happens on the day of surgery?

• Follow the instructions exactly about when your child should stop eating and drinking. If you don't, the procedure may be cancelled. If your doctor told you to have your child take any medicines on the day of the procedure, have your child take them with only a sip of water.
• Do not let your child wear contact lenses. Bring your child's glasses or contact lens case.
• Be sure your child has something that's a reminder of home. A special stuffed animal, toy, or blanket may be comforting. For an older child, it might be a book or music.

At the hospital or transplant centre

• A parent or legal guardian must accompany your child.
• When you arrive at the hospital or transplant centre, your child will be prepared for surgery right away. Final tests will be done to make sure that your child is ready and that the donor organ will likely work for your child.
• Your child will be kept comfortable and safe by the anesthesia provider. Your child will be asleep during the surgery.
• The surgery will take several hours.
• After surgery, your child will stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for 2 to 3 days or more. The amount of time will depend on your child's condition. The staff will watch your child's condition. The doctor will talk to you about the surgery.
• A ventilator may be needed to help your child breathe after the surgery.