Anyone work on a Liver Transplant ICU?

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 16, 2007

If you want to work with liver transplants, look for a SICU in a teaching hospital that has a transplant program. I have never heard of a ICU that did just liver transplants- some months we have many, sometimes none. SICU is mainly trauma, other surgical and liver transplants. CTICU gets the heart and lung transplants.

Liver transplant patients vary so much. Sometimes they are extubated a day after surgery and make a rapid recovery. My first liver transplant patient lived on in the hospital for almost two years before he died-he lived in limbo- alive but without his health returning.

dorie43rn · Jul 16, 2007

About liver transplant ICU, I live near Pittsburgh where they do the most transplants anywhere, and the livers actually have their own ICU. They are the only transplant that needs an ICU unless something goes wrong. So, liver transplants don't go to the surgical floor for a few days, they go straight to the liver ICU where they are not even woke up for two days. Such an amazing and tough surgery.

Dorie

walk6miles · Aug 2, 2007

Just saw your post.... I worked at University of Maryland as a traveler.. I loved the work, the patients, fellow nurses, physicians, etc. The unit, and the hospital I did not like (an issue I will write on later)..... i had already had surgical (hearts) experience.... keep us posted.

SICU Queen · Aug 13, 2007

We have an Abdominal Transplant Unit at my hospital. We also have a Surgical ICU (my home unit, we get the heart/lung stuff along with all other surgical type stuff), a CCU, and a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

ATU is a great unit! I get pulled there on occasion when they've got a really sick liver, and it can be super busy! Those patients can have lots of bleeding issues but basically they're busy like any other critically ill post-op patient. Follow the protocols outlined by the facility for those particular patients and you'll be fine. It's a tough surgery for the patient, though...

I'm at a big teaching hospital in New Orleans that does take travelers if anyone's interested... just PM me and I'll be happy to pass along a website.

Clays02 · Dec 17, 2007

I'm a new nurse and I work on a kidney/liver/abdominal transplant unit and I love it so much. The patient's are hard but I am learning SO much on a daily basis.

Blackcat99 · Dec 17, 2007

My friend is in the process of getting on the liver transplant list. She is 57 years old, on medicaid and is an ex-smoker. Do you think she will ever really get a liver? If yes, how long do you think she will have to wait to get one? Thanks for any information.

dorie43rn · Dec 18, 2007

I don't think exsmoking and medicaid have anything to do if she gets a liver. There are 'Scores" they go by. Is she in liver failure already? Does she drink or do drugs? What is the liver problem? All these things go into consideration. For example: My husband had Hep C and cirrhosis. But, he was not having any major problems, so he was not even on a transplant list. But, he did develop a primary liver tumor 4cm in size. So, in January of this year, he was put on the list, and got his new liver April 1st. So it really depends on how bad the person is. Some people wait years, some die before they get one, and in my husbands case, he recieved one in 3 months.

Hope this helps, and good luck to your friend.

Doris

Blackcat99 · Dec 20, 2007

Thanks Doris. My friend said she was told that she has liver cancer and would only live 1-2 more years without a liver transplant. That's great news that your loved one was able to get a liver so soon!!!!! I hope my friend will be able to get one soon too.

Chisca, RN · Dec 22, 2007

My friend is in the process of getting on the liver transplant list. She is 57 years old, on medicaid and is an ex-smoker. Do you think she will ever really get a liver? If yes, how long do you think she will have to wait to get one? Thanks for any information.

United Network for Organ Sharing rates liver transplant candidates based on their MELD score which looks at bilirubin, INR, and serum creatinine. As far as working in a transplant unit it is very demanding. Rewards include feeling like you are part of a team, motivated patients and families, numerous opportunities for teaching and learning. Typical surgical equipment, ventilators, PA and arterial catheters, CVVHD but no balloon pumps. Downside is becoming very involved with patients and families to the point of burnout. I think they are calling it compassion fatigue these days.

rgroyer1RNBSN, BSN, RN · Jan 9, 2008

I get alot of these pts. in my sicu, there very challenging but rewarding, go for it, we get all the transplant pts. and trauma in my sicu.

mrsituation · Jan 11, 2008

Well...I used to work for 2 1/2 yrs on a Transplant ICU in Pittsburgh, Pa.; we had a nice variety of transplant recipients & donors. On our unit we handled Livers, kidneys, kidney/Pancreas, & Multivisceral transplants which could ,depending on the patient, encompass up to 5 transplant organs. Our livers and kidneys did very well, of course all depending on length of organ dysfunction and history. Also I found that with the livers, those with living related donors did remarkably well. Length of ICU stay again depending on the history, length of time for organ dysfunction. Our unit was specific to transplants and I cannot imagine mixing this population with a SICU environment, although I hear that it is done. I just don't agree with it. Transplanted patient come with their own set of specific health care issues and need a nurse well versed in those issues.