• Blood Tests will be done to confirm your blood type, evaluate serum chemistries, hematology, coagulation, hepatitis screens, and viral studies. If you are being evaluated for a liver transplant you must sign consent to be tested for HIV (AIDS). The results of these tests are confidential and will not be released without your permission.
• Radiology
  • Chest X-ray, determines if your lungs and lower respiratory tract are healthy.
  • Ultrasound, examines your liver and other abdominal organs and blood vessels.
  • CAT Scan (Computerized Tomography), makes a computer image which shows the size and shape of your liver and major blood vessels. A contrast material may be injected into a vein to enhance the quality of the image.
  • MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), makes a more detailed picture of your abdominal organs and their blood vessels.
• Endoscopy, uses a scope to look at the esophagus and stomach and assess for ulcers, inflammation or varices. You will be sedated for this procedure.
• Cardiac Evaluation-The Transplant Team may require you to undergo a cardiac workup to make sure your heart is strong enough to withstand treatment.
  • ECG, examines how well your heart is beating.
  • Echocardiogram, uses sound waves to look at your heart and the pressure in its vessels.
  • Stress Test, examines your heart’s response to exercise. There are a few different types of stress tests, some of which require you to walk on a treadmill and some of which give you medicine to make your heart think it’s exercising. The team will assess which one is appropriate for you.
  • Cardiac Angiogram, if your stress test is abnormal. Dye is injected into your arteries to help identify any abnormalities or blockages in your heart vessels.
• Pulmonary Evaluation
  • If you were a smoker or have a lung disease you may need some of the following tests:
  • PFT'S (pulmonary function tests), assess your lung capacity and function to determine your blood's ability to carry oxygen.
  • ABG (arterial blood gas), tests your carbon dioxide and oxygen level. For this test blood must be drawn from an artery.

In addition to the medical tests used to determine the extent of your liver disease, a transplant evaluation requires additional assessments. These may include the following:

Social Work/ Psychiatry
A social work/psychiatry consultation may be necessary to help you and your family with the many psychological and social issues involved with transplantation. It is vital that all potential transplant recipients have adequate support systems to help them through the process.

Alcohol/ Drug Screening
All potential transplant recipients may be randomly tested for alcohol and illicit drugs throughout the transplant process. Use of these substances will forfeit a patient's eligibility to be transplanted at our institution. You may be asked to sign a contract with our social worker regarding this matter.

Financing Transplantation
At the time of your initial consultation financial counselors may meet with you to verify your insurance coverage for transplantation. Many insurance companies require a letter from a Transplant Center confirming the medical necessity for you to undergo a transplant as well as the results of your transplant evaluation before they will approve a transplant.

It is very important that your pharmacy understands the medications that you require and we will ensure that they have the medications available at your nearest outlet at appropriate time intervals.