Gastroenterology in Minnesota

Liver Transplant Interest Group

The Liver Transplant Clinic is a multidisciplinary practice within the Transplant Center. A well-developed team approach is used in the Liver Transplant Clinic to maximize patient care. This team consists of hepatologists (doctors who are specialized in liver diseases), transplantation surgeons, desk clinical assistants, transplant nurse coordinators, a physician's assistant, social workers, dietitians, and secretaries.

Many other physicians also participate in caring for patients in the Liver Transplant Clinic including a radiologist (a doctor specializing in the imaging of the liver), infectious diseases physicians (doctors specializing in the treatment of infections), anesthesiologists (doctors who administer sedatives and anesthetics during the liver operation and take care of patients in the Intensive Care Unit immediately following liver transplantation), and a thoracic disease specialist who has special expertise in lung diseases associated with liver dysfunction. The goal of the Liver Transplant Clinic is to provide patients with thorough yet timely, cost-effective care both before and after liver transplantation.

To help deal with all health-related issues arising following liver transplantation, each patient is assigned a nurse coordinator, providing patients a contact person they can directly contact for questions. This facet of the Clinic organization allows a personal and individualized approach to patient care. We help each individual achieve fullest quality of life possible with a commitment to his or her long-term care following orthotopic liver transplantation.

Types of diseases seen in the Liver Transplant Clinic

Patients with the following diseases are frequently evaluated for liver transplantation:

• Viral Hepatitis
  • Hepatitis C
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis D
• Cholestatic Diseases of the Liver
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Secondary Sclerosing Cholangitis
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Biliary Atresia
  • Alagille's Syndrome
  • Byler's Disease
  • Byler's Syndrome
  • Caroli's Disease
  • Autoimmune Cholangitis
• Metabolic Diseases
  • Wilson's disease
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency
  • Primary hyperoxyluria
  • Familial Amyloidosis
  • Alcoholic liver disease
• Hepatobiliary malignancies
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Cholangiocarcinoma
  • Hepatoblastoma
• Vascular diseases of the liver
  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome
  • Veno-occlusive Disease
  • Idiopathic portal hypertension
• Autoimmune liver diseases and diseases of uncertain etiology
  • Autoimmune hepatitis
  • Cryptogenic cirrhosis
  • Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
• Diseases occurring after liver transplantation
  • Biliary strictures
  • Chronic rejection
  • Recurrent disease (e.g., hepatitis C)