Post-Transplant Care
Transplant patients continue to be monitored after they return home. They make regular visits to the Inova Transplant Center so their medications can be monitored and modified. The comprehensive post-transplant follow-up care is credited with the exceptional survival rates achieved in each of our transplant programs.
Following transplant surgery, the patient is seen by the transplant surgeon and hepatologist, who together manage the patient's immunosuppressive therapy. After discharge, the patient is seen for three months in the transplant clinic for continued postoperative care, immunosuppressive treatment and education on transplant care. Once stable, the patient returns to his or her primary physician for long-term care in conjunction with the transplant clinic.
Patients are routinely seen for outpatient visits as follows:
- Month 1: Twice a week for one week; Once a week for four weeks
- Months 2-3: Every two weeks
- Months 4-12: Once a month by nephrology or clinic
- After Month 12: Annual checkup and every two to three months as indicated by nephrologist (usually)
This schedule may be altered after the third month to enable nephrology to reclaim responsibility for the patient?s care.
Going Home
Monitoring Your Body: You will be asked to monitor the following:
- Temperature:
- We ask that you take your temperature two times per day before breakfast and dinner. Please record the results on your patient record sheet.
- Also take your temperature anytime you feel chilled, hot or achy. This may be the first sign of infection/rejection.
- Please contact the transplant team for any temperature
greater than 100 degrees F.
- Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure is a common problem after transplant. Some of the medications you take can be a factor in causing an increase in blood pressure. An increase in weight can also be a factor in causing an increase in blood pressure. You will be monitoring and recording your blood pressure at home. These recordings will be reviewed in the transplant clinic. You may be required to take medication to keep your blood pressure under control.
- You will receive or be asked to purchase a blood pressure machine before you are discharged from the hospital. Your nurse will teach you and your family on use of the blood pressure machine.
- We ask that you take your blood pressure in the morning before breakfast and again in the evening before dinner. Please record the results on your patient record sheet.
- You should notify your transplant team if your blood pressure is: systolic (top number) and gt; 180 or and lt; 100 diastolic (bottom number) and gt; 100 or and lt; 50
- Your blood pressure machine will also give you your pulse. You should notify the transplant team when your pulse is and gt; 120 or and lt; 50.
- Weight:
- Please weigh yourself every morning after you urinate, but before you eat and record the results on your patient record sheet.
- You should notify your transplant team for any weight gain and gt; 3 lbs. in a 24 hr. period.
- Blood Sugar (Diabetics Only):
- If you were diabetic before transplant or have recently developed diabetes since transplant, you will be asked to monitor your blood sugar. Please take your blood sugar before breakfast and before dinner. Record the results on your patient record sheet.
- You should notify the transplant team or your endocrinologist (diabetic doctor) for blood sugars and lt;80 or and gt;350.
