HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Post Transplant Question? Was your liver DCD or DBD?

Support Forums
>
Hepatitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/31/2015 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
We need some help.

Themister is getting calls for back-up, or transplant. He had his 5th call Sunday. FIFTH! As back-up, again. This was his 4th call as back-up, and he had one call as primary since mid January. Still, no transplant.

Twice, themister was told this was a DCD liver. Well, this liver also was rejected as no good.

Once as back up, the intended recipient was too ill, so themister was prepped and ready to roll into surgery, but the surgeon rejected the liver.

He also got one call that was "his call". This was a DCD liver. He was told it was a DCD liver, and asked if he wanted to come in. He did, of course.

Something that never was known to us prior, never discussed by anyone is...the type of liver offered. DCD, or DBD. One is donation after cardiac death. One is donation, brain death. In researching this, it seems DCD have a higher risk of several issues post transplant. Serious issues. Quality of life, issues, graft survival issues.

So our question to those of you post-transplant. Did you have a DCD or DBD liver, and what were you told before about that...if anything? Thanks everyone. Themister and I are emotionally wiped out trying to go this alone. Big Hugs
Posted 3/31/2015 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was a patient who was brain dead, kept alive by machine, then organs were harvested (weird way to describe it). Since its been over 5 years I guess mine worked okay. I hadn't heard, or even thought of the difference it might make.

I was incredibly fortunate. My call came as I was traveling to the hospital for a seminar about a transplant. I had been on the list for 4 years, but my MELD score had been in the mid teens and had just jumped 6 points in a week, to 24 a few days earlier.

Going through false alarms, like many people do, would have been a strain as I live 2-3 hours away from the hospital. At that point, my caretaker (girlfriend) had quit on me, so I had to fly off island, take a 2 hour bus ride, then take a subway to the hospital. There aren't any flights or ferries from 7 pm 'til 7 am. A call at night would have been no good. themister is lucky to have themiz looking after him.
Posted 3/31/2015 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
Mike has no idea which kind he got. We had the vague impression that his donor was in a wreck. When he got the call, the patient was not dead, but had no chance of survival, and the family had signed the papers, so I am assuming...at that point they move to save the organ not the patient and a different protocol is begun...DBD for these reasons.

When he was in ICU there were 4 of them the same day...liver, lungs, kidney and heart....we think all from the same donor. Busy place that week!

He had the 2+ hour drive. He got the call at 5:20 PM. They started Mike's surgery after midnight. He was prepped and ready and quite close "to the end." I think they would have kept him that time as he was so sick and had him wait there. He could barely walk...Much less take a ferry, bus, and subway. He could hardly find the toilet at our home.

Holding good thoughts. I can't imagine how you are holding up under this pressure. So many hugs,

Mama Lama
Posted 3/31/2015 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
the liver i got was DBD and your correct in assuming no one mentioned a thing about it... The reason i know is because the poor guy had a car accident.. and his injury's were to serious to save him...But i have to say he lives on as part of me!!!! I know its a terrible thought but its close to spring break and a lot of accidents happen about now.....keep your head up!! Things will get better!!! the clouds can't last forever...The sun has to shine soon!!!!

Post Edited (Barrylink) : 3/31/2015 1:46:31 PM (GMT-6)

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply