During Transplant Surgery
Generally, a transplant follows this process:
- You will receive a phone call from a nurse or a physician alerting you that an organ has become available and available information about the transplantation organ.
- Once you arrive at the hospital, you will be admitted and the preparation for surgery will begin.
- An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your arm or hand. Additional catheters may be inserted in your neck and wrist to monitor the status of your heart and blood pressure, as well as for obtaining blood samples. Alternate sites for the additional catheters include the subclavian (under the collarbone) area and the groin.
- Physicians and nurses will see you and obtain any additional or new medical information.
- An anesthesiologist will visit you to discuss their role in the procedure.
- Any excessive hair at the surgical site may be removed.
- You will be asleep under general anesthesia during transplant surgery. A tube will be inserted through your mouth into your lungs. The tube will be attached to a ventilator that will breathe for you during the procedure.
- The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery.
Risks of the Procedure
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some complications may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Rejection of the transplant organ
- Blockage of the blood vessels
- Initial lack of function of the new organ
The new organ may generate a response in your body that causes the immune system to reject the transplanted organ. Rejection is a normal reaction of the body to a foreign object or tissue. To prevent rejection, medication is used that helps the immune system accept the transplanted organ.
