Liver Transplant

FAQ

• What does the liver do?
• Where is Mayo Clinic ranked compared to other transplant centers?
• Are there age restrictions for liver transplant recipients?
• Will insurance cover a transplant?
• How much does the evaluation cost if I don't have insurance and I want to pay out of pocket?
• How much does a transplant cost?
• Will Mayo Clinic re-transplant patients who have recurrent disease, such as hepatitis C virus infection?
• How long does a pre-transplant evaluation take?
• How many people can I bring with me to my appointments?
• How long can I expect to wait for a donor liver after being listed for transplant?
• How much time do I have to get to Mayo Clinic when a donor liver is found?
• How long will I need to stay in or near Mayo after the transplant?
• Will I be on medication for a long time after the transplant?
• What kind of care and testing can I expect after being released from the hospital?

What does the liver do?
The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen. It is the largest organ in the body and one of the most complex. The liver performs four basic functions:

• It aids in digestion by helping absorb the fat and certain vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K.
• It helps distribute nutrients found in digested foods.
• It helps "clean" the blood by removing medications and toxins.
• It produces important proteins that affect the blood, such as factors that are essential to making blood clot after an injury.

Where is Mayo ranked compared to other transplant centers?
Historically, Mayo Clinic has had some of the highest liver transplant survival rates of any major transplant center in the world. All three sites have one-and three-year survival rates of approximately 92 percent and 88 percent, respectively. For more details, see Volumes and Statistics.

Are there age restrictions for liver transplant recipients?
There are no strict age restrictions for liver transplant recipients; however, patients over 65 years must be in relatively good health other than their liver disease.

Will insurance cover a transplant?
Mayo Clinic works with many insurance companies. In most cases, our financial coordinators are able to work with insurance companies to secure transplant coverage.

However, coverage varies by provider and policy. Patients who are concerned about their insurance should request a meeting with the transplant financial coordinator when scheduling an appointment.

How much does the evaluation cost if I don't have insurance and I want to pay out of pocket?
This will vary from person to person and depends on the complexity of the patient's treatment. Mayo Clinic's charges are competitive with other large medical centers. Please contact us for an estimate.

How much does a transplant cost?
Again, this will vary from person to person. Please contact us; we can provide an individualized estimate.

Will Mayo Clinic re-transplant patients who have recurrent disease, such as hepatitis C virus infection?
Each patient is considered on a case-by-case basis. Mayo Clinic has historically served as a referral center for other transplant centers and we are happy to evaluate patients for re-transplantation. However, there are not enough organs to help all the people who might need a transplant so in some cases we cannot promise to re-transplant every patient referred to us.

How long does a pre-transplant evaluation take?
In general, the pre-transplant workup takes seven to ten days, depending on the tests required. Staff members can assist with locating reasonably priced accommodations in all three locations.

How many people can I bring with me to my appointments?
In general, it is helpful to have at least one person to help the patient through the transplant evaluation. This facilitates communication and helps the patient through the process. More than three tends to be cumbersome and time-consuming for the family.

How long can I expect to wait for a donor liver after being listed for transplant?
Wait time can vary from a number of days to several months, depending on the severity of a patient's illness. This serverity is reflected in the calculated or adjusted MELD score given to the patient.

How much time do I have to get to Mayo Clinic when a donor liver is found?
Generally, patients are allowed up to four hours to get to Mayo Clinic. However, there are exceptions to the rule. Travel time that will exceed four hours should be discussed with the transplant liaison.

How long will I need to stay in or near Mayo Clinic after the transplant?
Patients are generally required to stay close to Mayo Clinic for one month post-transplant. Long-term housing is offered at a reduced rate.

Will I be on medications for a long time after the transplant?
Transplant patients generally start out with six to eight medications immediately post-transplant. By six months, they generally take two to three per day. Eventually, patients are required to take only their antirejection medication for the rest of their life.

What kind of care and testing can I expect after being released from the hospital?
A patient's blood test and other lab results are monitored very closely in the months immediately after transplant. For the first four months, blood will be drawn twice a week. After four months, blood is drawn twice a month. After one year, tests are needed only once a month. Patients must return to the clinic for routine follow-up. The frequency of the follow-up appointments decreases as a patient gets farther away from transplant.