Our liver transplant program employs some of the foremost specialists in the world. These transplant surgeons have collectively performed more than 1,500 transplants during their careers, and since 1999, Georgetown has performed more liver transplants than any other center in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
History of innovation in liver transplantation
Our transplant surgeons use the most innovative techniques available to transplant healthy livers in to patients with end-stage liver disease. These innovations include:
- Laparoscopic-assisted live-donor liver resection: This surgery only requires two small cuts in the donor’s abdomen to remove a piece of their liver to be transplanted in to recipient. Recovery time and risk of infection is greatly reduced using this innovative technique.
- Split liver transplant: the livers come from a deceased donor, but are split and transplanted into two recipients. Each organ segment will regenerate to 90 percent of its intended size within weeks.
- Live-donor liver transplant: people can choose to donate a section of their liver to a friend, or relative, who is a match with their blood type and other factors.
Who is on the transplant team?
The most important member of the transplant team is you. We have numerous, experienced liver transplant professionals who will be a part of your transplant team and interact with you during different times of your liver transplantation process.
Your transplant team will include:
- Transplant surgeon: This doctor will perform the liver transplant surgery. Your surgeon is the lead physician on your care, and will coordinate your care and answer all your questions.
- Transplant hepatologist: your hepatologist (liver doctor) specializes in the care of patients with liver disease. Your hepatologist will monitor your health during the liver transplantation process.
- Anesthesiologist: this physician will make sure your heart and lungs are healthy enough to undergo a liver transplant.
- Clinical transplant coordinator: this team member is a registered nurse who will meet with you and answer all your questions. He or she will be your main contact, and will work with other members of the team to coordinate your care.
- Clinical transplant donor coordinator: your donor coordinator can help you with living donor liver transplant questions. What is a living donor liver transplant?
- Transplant social worker: your social worker will evaluate your ability to deal with the stress of a transplant as well as your social support system, including friends and family who can help you with the demands of a major surgery. Your social worker will also evaluate any substance abuse issues that may interfere with a healthy liver transplantation process.
- Transplant psychiatrist: this physician will evaluate you if the transplant social worker thinks it is necessary. He or she will make determinations about your mental health and determine if there are any substance abuse issues to manage.
- Financial coordinator: an expert in all the financial issues surrounding transplants, he or she will meet with you to discuss the costs associated with a transplant, as well as the cost of the medications you will need for the rest of your life to manage your new, healthy organ. He or she is available to answer any of your financial or insurance questions.
- Staff nurse: after surgery, you will have one nurse assigned to you who will manage your health in the surgical intensive care unit while you recuperate. He or she will prepare you for discharge and assist you in learning about how to manage all your medications.
- Nurse practitioners and Physician Assistants: After your transplant, your post-transplant coordinator will be your main point of contact for any questions you may have. This person will probably be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, who will remain in contact with you and provide a level of support necessary to manage the care of your new, healthy organ.
Make an appointment with the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute by calling 202-444-3700. You can also request more information.
