Consultations & Evaluations

Consultations and evaluations are a series of tests conducted in order to ensure that the patient is a viable candidate for organ transplantation. These tests range from simple blood tests to more involved procedures that may be specific to the patient’s organ.

The following information is intended to give a broad overview. Your doctor and transplant nurse coordinator will be able to provide you with a more specific list as the process progresses.

Some of the tests used to determine whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for organ transplantation are as follows:

• routine and special laboratory studies
• radiologic evaluations
• cardiac and pulmonary evaluations
• toxicological and infectious disease screens
• blood tests
• possible biopsy
• psychosocial evaluations
• surgical consultations
• additional consultations with various specialty physicians
• financial consultation

If you are found to be an appropriate candidate, your transplant nurse coordinator will place you on the national transplantation list to wait for a donor organ.

Factors preventing organ transplantation may include:

• an active, uncorrectable infection throughout the body
• HIV or AIDS
• active cancer outside the organ
• active alcoholism or substance abuse
• irreversible, severe brain damage
• severe uncorrectable diseases of other organs
• inability or refusal to comply with medical direction

If any of these factors are present and organ transplantation is inappropriate, the doctor will explain why. Sometimes a problem found during the evaluation process can be corrected through medical treatment. If this is the case, the patient can be treated accordingly and transplantation candidacy can be reassessed at a later date.

Related Links:

www.unos.org
www.onelegacy.org