Week 5: Liver transplantation

Question 1

MELD score (model for end stage liver disease)

Answer 1

-score calculated based on creatinine, bilirubin, and INR
-score can range from 6-40, and represents their likelihood of death without transplant at 3 months
40: ICU on life support
The more likely you are to die, the more priority you have.

Question 2

Generally how piggyback liver transplant is done

Answer 2

• piggyback dissection
• hepatic veins, portal vein, hepatic artery, bile duct
• preserves the inferior vena cava
• 68% 10 year survival post transplant