Transplant Center

The extraordinary care that you received while hospitalized at The Nebraska Medical Center does not end at the time of discharge. The intestinal transplant team continues to follow and monitor your progress. Our team is available to you, your family members and your local physician to answer any questions after transplantation.

Prior to leaving the hospital, you will receive a detailed discharge instruction notebook which will be reviewed with you and your family by a transplant coordinator and transplant pharmacist. After transplantation, you may find your life has changed in several ways. Activities will not be restricted, except for eliminating heavy lifting for the first month post transplant. Diet will depend on the patient and may include eliminating salt at the table, concentrated sweets and/or diary products. Some patients, mostly children, will require naso-gastric tube feedings for a period of time to support wound healing, strength and growth. A transplant dietician is available for assistance with any nutritional questions.

You will remain in the Omaha outpatient area for a minimum of three months prior to returning home. Lab work will be monitored on a regular basis and you will be seen in our transplant clinic weekly or as needed. The time spent in Omaha allows you and your family to become familiar with the necessary care you will need to maintain. It also allows the team to make adjustment to medications, and handle any other problems prior to releasing you back to your home town.

Once at home, we return your care to your local doctor. However, the transplant team will continue to monitor lab work and adjust the anti-rejection medications. In addition, we will follow any health problems or concerns, and may ask you to return to the medical center if we can not deal properly with a medical issue over the phone. We commonly ask patients to be seen in person at least once a year.

You and your family members play a very important role in successful intestinal transplantation. Responsibilities to help in long-term success include the following:

• Taking medication as instructed
• Having lab work done as scheduled
• Calling the transplant coordinator with new prescription or over-the-counter medications, ongoing health concerns or persistent fevers, and any questions or concerns
• Keeping regular appointments with your local physician and transplant team.
• Obtaining routine healthcare maintenance checks such as mammograms, pap smears, PSA, colonoscopy, etc.

For more information on available housing options, our transplant center, the city of Omaha and volunteer services click here.