After liver transplant surgery, patients are taken to the intensive care unit. There, they are closely monitored.

The breathing tube will remain in place until it is found that the patient can breath independently. Patients continue to receive IV fluids and pain medications. A bladder catheter will drain urine so that the patient does not need to use a urinal or bedpan.

Once the patient fully wakes up from the anesthesia and has been “extubated,” the Transplant Team will continue to assess the patient daily to see how well the new liver is functioning. The patient will continue to receive fluids and nutrition intravenously, but will eventually move to a normal diet. Physical therapy is started so the patient can regain muscle strength.

The average hospital stay for a liver transplant is usually several weeks.