After undergoing a transplant, patients remain under the care of the hospital’s transplant team. After discharge, many patients continue to live close to the transplant center, making follow-up visits less frequent and travel easier. While at the transplant center, patients are closely monitored for rejection, a common side effect of receiving a new organ. Other signs of rejection include shortness of breath, a fever, fatigue, weight gain, and not urinating as often as before.
Heart-lung transplant
Once a patient has had a heart-lung transplant, he or she will spend a week or more recovering in a transplant hospital. After surgery, a tube may be placed through the nose to remove fluid from the patient’s body and connect the new organ to the heart. He or she may also be on a ventilator for several days. Once the new organs are functioning properly, the patient may be discharged. The recovery period for this procedure depends on the patient’s condition before the procedure and the type of surgery.
Heart-liver transplant
The success of heart-liver transplantation is dependent on the grafts’ ability to tolerate ischemia and cold temperatures. Single-center studies show that the heart tolerates cold ischemia better than the liver. While the timing of heart-liver transplantation should be determined by the specific patient, the general approach is to perform a CHLT on the first available donor heart. There are several advantages of this approach.
Pancreas transplant
The process for a pancreas transplant at a transplant hospital is highly specialized, requiring an interdisciplinary team. Upon referral, you will be evaluated by the transplant team, which will be in charge of your overall care. Your first visit will be to collect medical information. Then, the transplant coordinator will oversee your full evaluation, which includes medical, surgical, psychosocial, and transplant-specific testing. You will be placed on a waiting list after undergoing a full evaluation. After you are deemed a suitable candidate, your transplant coordinator will begin the process of obtaining a healthy donor pancreas.
Pancreas center
The team at the Pancreas center at Transplant Hospital offers comprehensive care for patients undergoing pancreas transplantation. The transplant coordinator assists in the patient’s initial evaluation and compiles medical information. After completing a full evaluation, the coordinator will oversee surgical procedures, psychosocial assessment, and transplant-specific testing. Candidates are then placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list to receive a transplant.
Organ recovery agreement with OPO
Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) facilitate the donation process by facilitating the identification of donors, testing and authorization of organ donations. They also coordinate the recovery and transportation of donor organs. To be eligible for an OPO contract, a transplant hospital must obtain organs from at least 24 donors per year. Organ procurement organizations in non-contiguous states must reach 50 percent of the national average for kidney transplantation.
Infectious pathogens transmitted through organ transplant
There are several risks associated with infectious pathogens transmitted through organ transplant. These risks can be greatly reduced with improved screening and prevention. The following list of infectious diseases can be transmitted by organ transplant: