For patients who need liver transplants, Duke offers comprehensive evaluation and care, including traditional transplants and a living-related transplant program.

Transplant is an option when the liver can no longer perform vital functions and when the liver disease cannot be corrected in any other way.

Duke’s work has enhanced the prospects of liver transplant patients around the nation by contributing to advancements in transplant techniques and post-transplant treatments.

Duke’s team of physicians, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, dietitians, and medical psychologists will help determine if a liver transplant is the right treatment for you. If and when you become a transplant patient, the same group of professionals will take care of you.

Learn about the appointment and referral process for the Duke liver transplant program.

In 1997, Duke implemented a living-related-donor transplant program for children and adults. In living-related transplants, part of the liver of a living adult donor is removed and transplanted into the person who is sick. In about two months, the recipient’s new liver grows to normal size.

More information about living-donor eligibility and the donation process is available in the Living-Donor Information care guide.

As with all transplant programs, organ availability is a great factor limiting the number of transplants that can be performed each year. Since 1999, over 400 adult and pediatric liver transplantations have been performed at Duke.

Surgery

Surgery takes six to 10 hours. You can expect to be discharged from the hospital within one to two weeks after your operation, but you will need to remain in Durham for another two weeks for frequent clinic visits.

Remember that each person is different, and your recovery depends on your progress or development of complications.

Clinical Trials

Patients can often benefit from clinical trials by gaining access to treatments before they are widely available.

For information on the latest and upcoming trials involving liver transplant, please contact Sherri Jarvis.

Visit DukeHealth.org's clinical trials section for additional clinical trial participation opportunities.

Transplant Coordinators

• Tracie Curtis, RN, BSN, CCTC
• Julie Hudson, RN, MSN, CTCC
• Susan Gagan, RN, BSN, CTCC
• Marion Stewart, RN, BSN, CCTC
• David Cousino, RN, BSN (Pediatric)
• Debra Bernardina, RN, BSN, CCTC

Transplant Social Workers

• Karli Pontillo, MSW, LCSW

Study Coordinator

• Sherri Jarvis, RN, 919-681-6898

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Brady, Carla W.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Gastroenterology
• Brennan, Todd V.
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant
• Collins, Bradley H.
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant
• Diehl, Anna Mae E.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Gastroenterology
• Martin, Abigail E.
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Muir, Andrew J.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Gastroenterology
• Patel, Keyur
  • Medicine / Medicine - Gastroenterology
• Ravindra, Kadiyala V.
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant
• Smith, Alastair D.
  • Medicine / Medicine - Gastroenterology
• Sudan, Debra L.
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant
  • Pediatrics / Pediatrics-Chairman Office
• Vikraman, Deepak
  • Surgery / Abdominal Transplant

Locations

This service is available at:

• General and Thoracic Surgery, Transplant
  Duke Clinic 2B/2C, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710