Patient Evaluation

A basic work-up is performed to evaluate each patient as a potential "candidate" for transplantation.

Prior to the first appointment, each patient will be asked to provide a clinical summary, recent laboratory data, a Doppler Ultrasound of the liver, a CT Scan of the abdomen (done with contrast), an upper endoscopy, chest X-ray, and either an echocardiogram or a stress-echocardiogram (depending on patient's age).

The required work-up for each patient is as follows:

• Doppler Ultrasound of the Liver
• Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan of the Abdomen with Contrast
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy/Upper Endoscopy
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Dobutamine Stress Echocardiogram
• PAP Smear
• Mammogram
• Psychological-Sociological Evaluation
• Dental Evaluation

With this information, the interdisciplinary team at the division can determine if transplant is imminent. Additional tests may be ordered, depending on the outcomes of the above tests. These include:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Colonoscopy
• Liver BiopsyRight Heart Catheterization
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Cardiac Consultation
• Pulmonary Function Test
• Arterial Blood Gases
• Creatinine Clearance
• Nephrologist Evaluation