4. Clinical Guidelines for Liver Transplantation (PDF) - British ...

Guidebook for the Solid Organ Transplant Programme Chapter 4
Appendix Q
WHEN A LIVER BECOMES AVAILABLE
Keep your pager with you at all times and call the Clinical Coordinator on call 24 hours a day at
1-800-663-6189 or (604) 877-2240 anytime your pager goes off.
It is extremely important that the transplant team be able to reach you as soon as a liver becomes available.
The transplant team should know where to get in touch with you at all times.
If an organ becomes available and the transplant team has selected you as the most suitable recipient, the BCT
Transplant Coordinator will attempt to contact you by first phoning your home telephone number. If there is
no response, they will attempt paging you via your pager. Even though a donor liver receives special
handling and will be stored in a special solution to keep it suitable for transplantation, there is a time limit.
It is very important that if your telephone number changes, you should immediately inform the BCT Liver
Transplant Coordinator.
You may also want to get a telephone answering machine and check it often. If you plan on going out of
town, be sure to leave your travel plans and contact numbers with the transplant coordinator.
When you do get the call from your Transplant Centre, you will probably feel equal levels of excitement and
fear. It will seem as if everything is a blur. This is why it is very important for you to make any plans in
advance, whenever possible.
Make sure you do not eat or drink anything once you have been called to the hospital. It is important that
your stomach be empty in order to have surgery.
If you are waiting at home, the call to come into hospital for transplant may come at any time of the day or
night. The Transplant Coordinator will identify themselves and ask you a few questions. They will ask:
How you are feeling
If you have any colds or fever
If you have a sore throat or diarrhea
If you have had any recent infections
If you are taking any antibiotics
If they have no concerns regarding your present condition they will ask you to come to the hospital as soon as
possible. If you live in the Lower Mainland/Vancouver area, it is expected that will arrive at the hospital
within 2 hours of the telephone call. If you are coming by car, please ensure that you have someone drive
you. If you are coming from outside of the lower Mainland, the Transplant Coordinator will give you detailed
instructions regarding the transportation plan. You will either come by air ambulance, commercial flight, or
charter flight. The Transplant Coordinator will make the travel arrangements.
If you are coming by commercial flight or charter flight, you will need money for a taxi from the airport to
Vancouver General Hospital (around $20.00). BC Transplant will cover the cost of commercial flight or
charter flight. If you come by air ambulance, you can be billed up to $240.00 depending on where you live.
Chapter 4 – Clinical Guidelines for Liver Transplantation – July, 2010 Page 62
See Page 1 for disclaimer