Post-Transplant Care
Immediately following organ transplant surgery, patients are moved to a unit where they are closely monitored to ensure that:
- Their bodies are accepting the new organ
- They are experiencing no ill effects of the immunosuppressive medications
During their stay at University of Maryland Medical Center, patients are constantly monitored by transplant nurses and physicians. They also learn about the medications they will take for the rest of their lives and how to recognize signs of organ rejection.
How long the patient stays in the hospital depends on several factors, including how well the transplanted organ functions following surgery, the recipient's overall health and the kind of organ transplanted.
After being admitted to the hospital on the morning of your surgery, you should expect to stay between three to 14 days if you're getting an organ and between two to seven days if you're donating an organ.
Life After the Transplant
Transplant Coordinators
There are many questions related to the transplant that recipients and their families will have. Providing information and support is a crucial part of our program.
All transplant recipients have a coordinator to help partner with the providers for their post-transplant care. Most transplant coordinators may be reached at 410-328-5408. Post-kidney transplant coordinators are available at 410-328-5224.
Outpatient Visits
To ensure a rapid and complete recovery, most transplant recipients return to the University of Maryland Medical Center once a week for four to six weeks following transplantation.
If you live too far away to visit our outpatient clinic, you may arrange these visits with your hometown physician.
During these first weeks, patients are seen by a transplant coordinator and a transplant physician. We make sure medications are precisely adjusted for their individual needs. Blood tests are conducted to closely monitor the patient's progress.
Social workers and dietary staff are also available to provide information and answer questions.
After the first four to six weeks, you will still need to visit your physician periodically. How often will depend on how well you are doing.
Medications
A vital component of post-transplant care is the management of the complex medications that all transplant patients must take. The University of Maryland Medical Center recognizes these new challenges and provides transplant pharmacy clinical services to assist in medication management.
When patients are ready to leave the hospital, their prescriptions will be filled by the hospital pharmacy.
After they leave the hospital, prescriptions can be filled through the University of Maryland Specialty Pharmacy.
Benefits of the specialty pharmacy include:
- Medications are delivered directly to patients' homes.
- Prescriptions are prepared by experts in transplant medications.
- Discounts are available on post-transplant medications.