About the Liver Transplant Program
Jefferson maintains a long tradition of success in treating all forms of acute and chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Our hepatologists (liver specialists) are experienced in diagnosing and treating your condition through a full range of medical options, including nutritional therapy, lifestyle changes and medication.
However, if damage to your liver cannot be controlled, a liver transplant may be necessary. Jefferson's Liver Transplant Program has a long tradition of outstanding outcomes. Ours is the longest-running liver transplantation program in the Delaware Valley. It is also the fastest-growing program within the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)'s Region 2 – which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
To date, more than 700 patients have received liver transplants at Jefferson. We have the lowest mortality rate among patients on the recipient waiting list of centers served by the nonprofit Gift of Life Donor Program in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. Our patient and graft survival rates surpass the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR)'s expectations and are above OPTN regional and national levels. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which administers the nation's policies on organ transplantation and procurement, has designated Jefferson a liver transplant program for both live donor and deceased donor livers.
Jefferson's multidisciplinary team of surgeons, hepatologists, oncologists, radiologists and other specialists offers patients state-of-the-art care and a comprehensive approach to liver and biliary disease. Hepatologists from our well-regarded Jefferson Digestive Disease Institute work in close collaboration with our team, as do many other specialists focused on helping patients prepare successfully for surgery and recovery. Jefferson has developed innovative therapies to improve quality of life before and after surgery, including a new artificial liver assist device and new antirejection protocols. Our Liver Transplant Program has also developed robust clinical and research programs in acute and chronic liver diseases.
To schedule an appointment with Jefferson's Liver Transplant Program, call 215-955-8900.