Liver Transplant

Liver Disease and Transplant Care Just for Kids

The Pediatric Liver Disease and Transplant Program, at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, provides a continuum of care for children and teens with liver disease. From expert evaluation and medical management of liver disease to living-donor and deceased-donor liver transplantation, the Children’s Hospital of Michigan is metropolitan Detroit’s leader in pediatric liver disease care.

Common Types of Liver Disease

Our team treats children and teens with every type of liver disease, including:

• Autoimmune liver diseases
• Metabolic liver disease
• Biliary atresia
• Neonatal cholestasis
• End stage liver disease
• Portal hypertension
• Viral hepatitis
• Wilsons disease
• PFIC
• Cirrhosis
• Acute liver failure
• Liver cancers

Common Signs and Symptoms of Liver Failure

• Slowed/delayed growth or onset of puberty
• Loss of appetite or weight loss
• Itchy skin
• Fatigue- Your child may frequently feel weak or tired
• Ascites- Stomach may get bigger because of an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
• Edema- Fluid collection in the hands, legs and/or feet
• Jaundice- Your child's skin or eyes may look yellow due to the inability to filter harmful substances
• Cirrhosis- Scarring of the liver
• Tendency to bruise easier or bleed longer after injury

Why choose us for your child’s liver disease and transplant care

Care Close to Home

As the only pediatric transplant center in Metro Detroit, we have a long history of providing lifesaving transplant services for children throughout Michigan and neighboring states. Our partnership with referring physicians is critical to ensure patients receive high quality care with the best outcomes.

Specialized Care

The Liver Disease and Transplant Program at Children's Hospital of Michigan provides your child with the best possible care during every step of the liver transplant process. Our outcomes are among the best in the nation consistently exceeding national averages.

A Dedicated Multidisciplinary Team

Imagine an all-inclusive team of medical professionals that collaborate to create a customized plan of care that is focused on your child and family’s needs. Our liver transplant program ensures every part of your child’s care is addressed. From transplant surgeons, pediatric hepatologists and coordinators to dietitians, child-life specialists, social workers, pharmacists, and physical and occupational therapists, you can expect an extensive team approach throughout your child’s transplant care at our center.

Liver Transplant

Why Might My Child Need a Liver Transplant

It might be that your child's liver isn't working as it should and medical treatment cannot make it better. Or, your child may have a health condition that would improve with a liver transplant.

What to expect if your child needs a Liver Transplant

Your child will have the same team of providers from the time of referral and beyond. During your transplant evaluation you will meet the whole team, review treatment options specific to your child and what to expect throughout the process.

Preparing to get a liver transplant can be overwhelming but we will be with you every step of the way. Our experienced team is here to help answer your questions and get you on the road to recovery.

Types of Liver Transplant

Deceased donor liver transplant:

Deceased donors are most often people who die from accidents, heart attacks or strokes and their families consent to the gift of organ donation. It is the most common type of liver transplant. A whole liver or a liver segment can be donated. To be eligible for a deceased donor liver your child will be placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) wait list.

Living donor liver transplant:

In this option, we transplant part of a healthy living person’s organ. Your donor could be a relative, a friend, or even a person you have never met, as long as they are at least 18 years old. Your liver has two lobes, right and left. Because healthy liver tissue quickly regrows, we can take one of the lobes from your living donor and give it to you, leaving the other lobe in the donor.