Liver Transplant
A liver transplant is a last resort! (Sorry, you don’t get a liver just because you don’t feel good)
Once your liver has become decompensated (unstable), you will most likely experience following symptoms on more than one occasion: Ascites, Hepatic Encephalolpathy, and/or Esophageal Varices
UNOS uses 3 lab results that determine your MELD. Your INR, your Creatine level, and your bilirubin. Your INR calculates how fast your blood clots. Your Creatine calculates your kidney function, which is usually impaired with severe liver disease. Your Bilirubin calculates how effectively the liver excretes bile. You’ll know if you’re not getting rid of your bile because your skin will look yellow!
Four levels of MELD
• Greater than or equal to 25 • 24-19 The greater your MELD the closer you are to a liver transplant!
• 18-11
• Less than or equal to 10
The average MELD for a person receiving a liver transplant is 20!
Where does a donor liver come from? Unfortunately, the donated liver will have to come from a person who is deceased and was willing to become an organ donor!! Some places do live donors (where a living person donates part of their liver) but Salt Lake does not have this option
The donated liver will have to match your blood type of B+ and the liver will work best if the person that donated it is close to being about your same body size!!
