Grogan Tracy A
Transplant Intensive Care Unit, UPMC Presbyterian, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2011 Sep;23(3):443-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2011.08.002.
Liver transplantation has evolved into an accepted treatment for many suffering from end-stage liver failure. The complex nature of the liver results in every organ system being impacted by either the failing or the transplanted liver. Organ shortage remains problematic, and work to ensure maximizing the organ donor pool as well as the success of each organ transplant continues. The clinical care and condition of the patient before transplant can impact the outcome after transplant. Nurses can play an integral role in early identification of graft dysfunction, rejection, or infection. Because of the intimate and large amount of time that the nurse is at the patient’s bedside, he or she is often in a position to monitor for potential risks to the patient and take corrective action.
