About the Surgery
Liver transplantation is much more than the initial surgery – and it requires a lifelong commitment.
During the transplant operation, the surgical team puts the patient under general anesthesia. The diseased liver is removed through an incision in the abdomen. The team then places the healthy donor liver into the patient’s body, making the appropriate connections for the bile duct, artery, and veins.
The transplant surgery usually takes four hours.
After surgery, the patient will be taken to the surgical intensive care unit and closely monitored for one day. Once stabilized, the patient will be moved to the transplant floor.
The hospital stay typically lasts five days, one of the shortest length of stays for liver transplant in the country. During this time, patients learn about medications, future outpatient visits, and general health care issues. Patients also undergo physical therapy and learn how to take care of their new liver.
Learn more about what to expect after surgery.
