A liver transplant operation can take more than 24 hours in total, including the donor and recipient procedure. The liver transplant surgical staff performs the procedure in two teams. The first team removes the organ from the donor; this usually involves travel to another medical center. Then the second team removes the diseased organ from the patient and implants the donor organ.

During implantation, our specialists reduce blood loss and the need for transfusions by using cell savers and rapid infusers to collect blood and return it to the patient.

In the recent past, donated organs were only available from cadavers that closely matched the recipient's blood and tissue type, and body size. Today, there are new options for those patients needing a liver transplant

Extended donors - Hans Popper, MD, described the liver as "an organ that does not age." This peculiarity of the liver, along with a better understanding of liver diseases, an aggressive surgical approach and a dedicated 24-hour team, allows Einstein to use "extended donors." This advanced practice allows people of different ages and those with existing medical conditions to donate their livers. Extending the donor acceptance criteria in this way increases the supply of organs and decreases deaths among patients waiting for a liver. Einstein Center for Liver Disease is a pioneer in extended donor transplantation and donor selection process. Einstein is also a pioneer in transplantation from non-heart beating donors. Expanding the donor pool in these ways gives recipients a better chance at getting a liver at the right time in their disease process, instead of dying while waiting for the "perfect" organ.

Reduced size cadaveric liver transplants - This option emerged in response to the shortage of organs available, especially for children. With this option, a cadaveric liver from a large donor is transplanted into a smaller recipient. The donated organ is surgically reduced to its right or left lobe. Reduced size liver transplantation has expanded the donor pool to individuals whose weights are as much as 10 times those of potential recipients, and consequently reduced mortality among transplant candidates.

Split liver cadaveric transplantation - In this advanced procedure, one cadaveric donor provides two grafts for two recipients, usually an adult and a child. The donated organ is surgically split into two different sized parts. Survival rates with this procedure are similar to full liver transplants. Einstein was among the first hospitals in the region to perform this life-saving operation

Transplantation for hepatitis and liver cancer (hepatomas) - Thanks to the use of extended donors, patients with hepatomas and hepatitis now have liver transplantation available to them as a treatment option. Hepatomas, hepatitis, and liver cancer are now treatable through a combination of liver transplantation and aggressive use of new medication protocols. Einstein operates an active hepatobiliary surgical program that offers patients who are not transplant candidates other surgical options. Surgeons at Einstein Center for Liver Disease perform 30 to 50 major liver resections and other hepatobiliary procedures, such as RFA each year.