Caring for Your Child After a Liver Transplant

It can feel like a lot to deal with when your child gets a liver transplant. The transplant team is here to help you care for your child.

Liver transplantation gives your child a healthy, working liver. You'll need to be extra careful over the next few months.

Your health care professional has prescribed medicine to keep your child's body from rejecting (not accepting) the new liver. A side effect of the medicine is that your child is more likely to get infections. Sometimes, the area around the surgical site also can become infected.

The transplant team will work with you to keep your child as healthy as possible. Look at the transplant information that your team gave you for specific details. Call your transplant team for help with any questions or concerns.

• Give medicines to your child on time and as directed.

• Store medicines as you have been directed. Some may need to be refrigerated.

• Gently shake liquid medicines before giving them.

• Check with your transplant team before starting any new medicines, including prescription medicines and medicines you can buy in the store without a prescription. Also ask the transplant team before giving any vitamins or herbal supplements.

• Give your child a healthy diet, following any specific recommendations that the transplant team gives you.

• To help prevent infections:

  • Encourage frequent, thorough hand washing for all family members.

  • Have your child avoid crowds until the transplant team says it's OK.

  • Have your child wear a mask in public as directed by the transplant team.

  • Try to keep your child away from people who are sick.

  • Keep any cuts or scratches clean and dry, and watch for signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or tenderness.

• Check your child's blood pressure and temperature as directed by the transplant team.

• Keep all follow-up appointments. On days that your child is having blood work done, do not give the morning dose of anti-rejection medicines (such as tacrolimus and/or mycophenolate) until after the blood work is done.

• Tell the staff at your child's school or childcare about the transplant and make sure they can give your child medicines if needed. Also let them know signs to look out for that might mean something is wrong, and what to do if they notice any problems.

• Your child should not get live vaccines. Discuss any immunizations ahead of time with the transplant team.

• Talk with the transplant team about the right level of exercise for your child and any restrictions on sports or physical activity.

• Apply sunscreen whenever your child goes outside. Some medicines used to prevent rejection can make skin more sensitive to the sun.

Your child:

• Has a fever of 100.5°F (38.1°C) or higher.

• Has blood pressure readings that are higher or lower than the range the transplant team told you was normal for your child.

• Is breathing quickly.

• Develops redness, drainage, tenderness, or swelling around the incision.

• Feels dizzy or lightheaded.

• Vomits or feels nauseated.

• Has diarrhea.

• Has dark pee or clay-colored poop.

• Is exposed to chickenpox.

• Is unable to take the transplant medicines or you are unable to get them.

• Has a PICC line and has problems with it, such as trouble flushing; redness, bleeding, or oozing around the site; or the line has moved out of place.

• Develops yellowness (jaundice) of the skin or the whites of the eyes.

• Has swelling of any part of the body.

• Is crankier or more tired than usual.

• Develops itching, a rash, sores, or blisters.

• Is behaving differently than usual.

• Has new or worsening pain.

• Develops any other new symptoms or problems.

Your child:

• Has trouble breathing.

• Seems confused or agitated, or is unable to speak clearly.

• Has a seizure.

• Looks blue.

• Appears dehydrated; signs include dizziness, drowsiness, a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, crying with few or no tears, or peeing less often (or having fewer wet diapers).

When your family travels:

• Pack enough medicine for the whole trip, plus a few extra doses.

• Any medicines that need refrigeration should be kept in a cooler with frozen ice packs.

• Do not leave your child's medicines in a hot car.

• Make sure there is a refrigerator in any hotel rooms you stay in.