Pediatric liver transplant: Saving little lives to create big futures

Our patients are on the waitlist for less time before having transplant surgery compared to other centers. Our median time to transplant is five months, shorter than the regional and national wait times.

Our experts care for very sick kids and know how to get them — and their families — through the transplant journey. Our survival rates are excellent, and our patients thrive.

The Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients provides data about each transplant centers’ volume and outcomes. SRTR combines some data for pediatric and adult patients.

Understanding SRTR data (pdf)

For more than 20 years, our experts have served living liver donors. We are well-known experts in living liver donation and transplantation for children.

Learn more about living liver donation

Our physicians and surgeons are experienced in multi-organ transplants. They are supported by the vast resources at UW Health and work together to manage the complex care of kids who need more than one organ transplanted.

We’re dedicated to improving care for kids and the liver transplant process. We lead studies on new medications, technology, recovery and post-transplant care.

Learn more about pediatric research and our transplant research.

Living donor liver transplant happens when a person gives part of their liver to someone who needs a transplant. Within months, the remaining liver inside the donor and the new liver inside the recipient grow to their correct sizes.

Living liver donation has many benefits. These include:

• Speed: If a liver is needed quickly, a living donor can be the best option.

• Shorter wait time: A child can get a liver transplant before they become very ill.

• Healthiest donated organs: Donors go through rigorous testing to ensure they are healthy enough to donate.

Living liver donation is either directed or non-directed. Directed donation means the donor knows the recipient. Non-directed donation means the donor’s liver is matched to someone unknown to the donor. 

Learn more about living donor liver transplant

Complete this form if you are interested in being a living liver donor

Some children who need a liver transplant receive their new liver from a donor who has died.  Deceased donor organs are matched against transplant waiting lists in the region and nation.

If your child needs to have other organs transplanted with their liver, our physicians and surgeons have the experience needed for these complex cases. We coordinate care between specialists in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation.

Our UW Health Kids liver transplant team will evaluate your child to determine if and when they need a liver transplant.

Your child will have lab work and tests. Our pediatric hepatologist (liver specialist) and a pediatric liver transplant surgeon will talk with you about your child’s medical history. You will also meet with a dietitian who will help with any special nutritional needs.

Our financial consultant and social workers can answer your questions. Your child’s care is coordinated through our certified pediatric transplant nurse coordinator. The nurse coordinator is your personal connection to all our services and will help you navigate this experience.

You will learn if your child will benefit from a liver transplant and will be placed on the national waiting list for a deceased donor transplant. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) operates this list. UNOS matches organs to patients based on age, blood type, weight and degree of illness.

While your family waits for a deceased or living donor, your child will have regular visits with a member of our UW Health pediatric liver transplant team. We will monitor your child’s condition, update their waitlist status, and provide support and education.

When a liver becomes available, you will be asked to bring your child to the American Family Children’s Hospital within a few hours. The surgery will begin when the donated organ is ready to be placed. It may take up to 10 hours to complete. Most children spend 10 to 15 days in the hospital recovering from transplant surgery. While they are healing, you will learn about their medications, care needs and plans for their follow-up visits.

Your child’s liver transplant will require a lifetime of care. During the first year, there will be multiple visits to American Family Children’s Hospital for bloodwork and tests. These tests are important in seeing how well the new liver is working. There will be fewer visits over time. Rest assured that we provide lifelong care, support and education to make sure your child can lead a healthy life.