Liver Transplants

All liver transplants take place at the Ochsner Transplant Institute at Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans. Following transplant, many patients opt for follow-up care close to home. Locations that provide follow-up care are:

1. Ochsner Health Center - Tchoupitoulas

2. Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center

3. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport

Ochsner’s liver transplant program boasts one of the country’s shortest wait times for a deceased donor transplant. Shorter wait times directly impact survival rates, giving our patients a significant advantage.

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients offers a calculator to help patients, and their families learn more about their expected wait times for a liver transplant at specific facilities. To use this calculator, select a state (LA) and a liver transplant center (Ochsner is listed as Ochsner Foundation Hospital on the calculator), and then select your Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score range. You can also add optional information about your blood type, your age range, MELD exception points and amount of follow-up care to get more specific results.

When damage, disease or failure results in a low-functioning liver, liver transplant may be necessary. The procedure removes an unhealthy liver and replaces it with a healthy liver, either from a living donor or a deceased person. A few reasons for liver transplant include:

• Alcoholic liver disease

• Autoimmune diseases

• Biliary atresia - a blockage that prevents bile from getting from the liver to the gallbladder

• Blockage of the blood vessels to the liver

• Chronic liver failure

• Exposure to toxins

• Familial hypercholesterolemia - a genetic condition that makes it impossible for the liver to process cholesterol

• Fatty liver disease (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis)

• Genetic disorders

• Liver cancer

• Liver sclerosis or liver cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C - scarring of the liver

• Liver tumors

• Urea cycle disorders - a genetic condition that allows toxic ammonia to accumulate in the blood

• Viral hepatitis - which results in acute liver failure

• Severe reactions to illegal drugs, herbal supplements or over-the-counter or prescription medications

Ochsner surgeons perform all types of liver transplants, including living donor liver transplants. With this procedure, part of a liver gets taken from a healthy individual. This portion gets transplanted into the person in need of a new liver. Over time, the separate parts of the liver regenerate and grow to the appropriate size in the donor and recipient.

Living donor liver transplants provide life-saving benefits when compared to deceased donor transplants:

• Better results: Liver transplants involving a living donor result in increased survival rates. Additionally, getting your organ from a living donor reduces your need for post-transplant dialysis or blood transfusion.

• Quick recovery: Shorter hospital stays and quicker post-transplant recovery times.

• Shorter wait times: Living donors can designate their liver to a specific recipient, bypassing waitlists entirely.

Our team supports both recipients and potential donors every step of the way, from compatibility testing to surgery preparation.

You never take a liver transplant journey alone. At Ochsner, compassionate care is at the heart of everything we do. Our multidisciplinary team includes:

• Dietitians

• Financial counselors 

• Hepatologists

• Liver transplant surgeons

• Nurse coordinators

• Pharmacists

• Social workers

This team doesn’t just prepare you for your surgery, they guide you through post-transplant recovery and work to ensure the best possible outcomes.

We also offer support groups that connect you with others, whether they’re awaiting transplants or thriving with a new liver. You’ll gain encouragement, hear success stories and become part of a supportive community.

If you live far from the Ochsner Transplant Institute, your transplant journey may start from home. Thanks to advances in technology, you can get screened for liver transplant without driving to see us. All you need is internet access and a computer or smartphone.

Virtual visits allow liver transplant experts to evaluate you online. Prior to your first meeting, your team reviews your medical records. They then meet with you online to ensure your experience of liver problems matches your health records. Depending on the specifics of your case, you may get put on the transplant waiting list immediately. If needed, your team orders additional tests to determine where your journey will lead.

Virtual visits also help after transplant. In many cases, you can receive follow-up care online to ensure your new liver functions well and to give you an opportunity to ask questions, without driving long distances or spending time in the waiting room.
 

Ochsner transplant surgeons are committed to driving innovation in liver transplantation. From training surgeons nationwide to participating in cutting-edge clinical trials, we continue to improve outcomes. Our current research focuses on:

• Enhancing anti-rejection medications

• Best pre-transplant care for harvested organs

• Methods for improved quality of life, post-transplant

• Optimal techniques to prepare patients for transplantation

• Whether transplant or other treatment provides best results for specific groups of patients

The Ochsner Transplant Institute provides consistent updates to referring physicians, ensuring continuity of care. From initial evaluation to post-surgical follow-ups, referring providers receive detailed correspondence about their patients’ progress.

To refer a patient to one of the best liver transplant hospitals in the country, please call 504-842-3925, fax referrals to 504-703-2310 or email referrals to refliver@Ochsner.org.

"We're forever thankful for her and to her because of her our daughter, she has a chance" - Alexis C., living liver transplant recipient's mother. 

"It felt like divine inspiration to look up to see if it was possible to donate a liver. Dr. Seal was all over it and we got tested and we were a match and they paired us after the testing almost immediately." - Stephanie P., living organ donor. 

"We are forever grateful to her for giving our child a new lease on life" - Ember T., living liver recipient's father.

"I’m turning 50 this year and wanted to do something awesome for my 50th birthday. I actually saw it maybe on social media about Ochsner and about the number of children specifically waiting for liver donors, and I felt called to do it." - Erin D. living liver donor.

Eligibility for a liver transplant is determined through a comprehensive evaluation by our medical team. This evaluation considers factors such as the severity of your liver disease, overall health and the likelihood of success with transplantation. Our goal is to ensure that each candidate receives the most appropriate care tailored to their needs.

The wait time for a liver transplant varies depending on factors such as blood type, organ availability, and medical urgency. At Ochsner, our experienced team works diligently to ensure efficient access while prioritizing those in greatest need. We also utilize innovative strategies, such as living donor transplants, to help reduce wait times.

Ochsner provides extensive support to patients and their families, including access to social workers, dietitians, financial counselors and transplant coordinators. Our team is committed to guiding you through every step of the process and offering ongoing care, education, and emotional support to ensure a positive experience.

After a liver transplant, patients receive ongoing monitoring and follow-up care to ensure the success of the transplant. This includes regular check-ups, medication management and support for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Ochsner’s multidisciplinary team is dedicated to your long-term health and well-being post-transplant.

Yes, Ochsner works with most major insurance providers. Our financial counselors are available to assist you in understanding your coverage and addressing any concerns related to the cost of transplant services. For specific questions about your policy, we recommend contacting your insurance provider directly.

Living donor liver transplant involves the removal of a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor and transplanting it into a recipient in need of a new liver. This procedure is possible because the liver has the remarkable ability to regenerate and grow back to normal size in both the donor and the recipient. Potential donors are typically close relatives or individuals with a strong emotional bond to the recipient.

To qualify as a living donor, individuals must undergo a thorough medical evaluation to ensure they are in excellent health, have a compatible blood type, and meet specific criteria outlined by the transplant team. Living donor transplantation offers a lifesaving option for patients, often reducing wait times and improving outcomes.