During your two-day evaluation (to determine if an intestinal transplantation is necessary), you will meet with several members of the multi-disciplinary team, which includes:
- Physician assistants
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Social worker
- Pediatric transplant coordinators
- Transplant surgeons
- Cardiology
- Gastroenterology
- Anesthesiology
- Nutrition
After consultation with the team and review of test results, the intestinal or small bowel transplant surgeons will discuss their recommendation with you. If intestinal transplantation is recommended, Children’s is able to provide you with the most up-to-date advances in transplantation. The intestinal transplant surgeons will discuss and assist you in pursuing all of options available based on your child’s needs.
Waiting for a Pediatric Intestinal Transplant
Once your child is placed on the transplant list, we will work with your local doctor in caring for your child. It is important that you and your local physician keep the intestinal transplant team informed of your child’s medical condition. This information could affect your child’s status on the national transplant waiting list.
Children’s recognizes that waiting is often the most difficult time for families. Your transplant coordinator will assist you in making the all necessary travel arrangements, and are available to address your questions and concerns at all times. A pager will be provided free of charge upon request.
A pediatric coordinator will contact you when an organ becomes available for your child.
Call for Pediatric Intestinal Transplant
During this time you will again see the members of the multidisciplinary team that you met during the intestinal transplant evaluation phase.
The transplant coordinator will ensure the hospital is prepared for your arrival, while the social worker will assist you in obtaining housing\sleeping arrangements. Sleeping rooms are available in the hospital.
Because your child will be in the pediatric intensive care unit during the immediate post-operative period, you will be given priority for a sleep room upon admission.
Your child will be admitted to the transplant unit prior to surgery, and will return to the transplant unit after a brief stay in the intensive care unit. The unit is specialized in caring for transplant recipients and is staffed with transplant-dedicated personnel.
Follow-up Care for Pediatric Intestinal Transplant Patients
Discharge teaching begins on admission. The goal of the intestinal transplant team is to provide you with every opportunity possible to allow you to care for your child after transplant.
Many hours will be spent in providing you with information that will be important for you to know once you are discharged from the hospital such as medication administration, organ transplant infection and rejection. The clinical nurse specialist and nursing staff will assist you in devising a schedule specialized to meet your child’s needs.
Once you are discharged, your transplant coordinator will provide a follow-up routine and continue to be your link with the transplant team, as well as your local physician. A transplant coordinator is available on a 24-hour basis for emergency situations.
Watch a video of surgeons at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh performing a pediatric intestinal transplant.
