Determining Eligibility for Liver Transplantation

Before liver transplantation, all examinations and assessments of both the recipient and prospective donor are reviewed in detail by the Organ Transplantation Council. The council consists of qualified and authorized specialists from Gastroenterology, Radiology, Transplant Surgery, and Anesthesiology. Based on all these assessments, a unanimous decision is made to approve or reject the operation.

The primary aim of the council is to reach the best decision for both donor and recipient and achieve the highest possible chance of success.

Procedure After Approval of Eligibility

After approval by the council, the transplantation date is set. Detailed plans are made for both recipient and donor:

Preparing the Recipient

• The recipient is admitted to hospital several days before transplantation to complete preoperative preparations.
• Experienced transplant surgeons generally perform the operation two to three days after hospital admission.
• After surgery, the recipient is monitored in intensive care for several days.
• Under normal conditions, the total hospital stay is approximately 10–14 days.

Preparing the Donor

• The donor is admitted to hospital one day before surgery.
• The donor is monitored in intensive care on the first postoperative day.
• Under normal conditions, the hospital stay is approximately five to seven days.

Postoperative Follow-Up and Assessment

All the patient's vital parameters are closely monitored during hospitalization. During this period:

• Daily blood tests are performed.
• Drain output, urine output, and vital signs are checked regularly.
• Medication doses are carefully adjusted in response to these findings.

The first ten days after the operation are the period of greatest risk for surgical complications in recipients. Therefore:

• The transplanted liver is monitored daily with Doppler ultrasonography.
• Dynamic and triphasic abdominal computed tomography is subsequently performed to confirm that all vascular connections of the transplanted liver are open and that no complications are present.

Measures to Reduce Infection Risk

Patients receive immunosuppressive medication after liver transplantation, increasing their susceptibility to infection. Therefore:

• Patients must follow all clinical procedures and hygiene rules carefully.
• Visitors are restricted in organ transplantation clinics to reduce infection risk.

Together, these measures are intended to support a successful transplantation process while protecting the safety of both recipient and donor.