Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis Transplant Program
Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis are treated with compassion
As part of an ongoing effort to provide comprehensive transplant care to patients, Hume-Lee Transplant Center has implemented a unique program to transplant patients who suffer from severe alcoholic hepatitis — a condition that often disqualifies patients at other transplant centers.
Our Team of Specialists and Support
We partner with our MOTIVATE Clinic to offer holistic care. Our severe alcoholic hepatitis liver transplantation program includes:
- Addiction medicine specialists
- Social workers
- Hepatologists
- Transplant Surgeons
Depending on a patient’s need, the care team may also include inpatient rehabilitation and/or residential programs.
Support groups or community resources may also be recommended to support a patient’s recovery journey. We partner with organizations such as Journey House, a Richmond-based addiction recovery organization.
About Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis
A form of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), severe alcoholic hepatitis may occur quickly following heavy, short-term alcohol use. It differs from cirrhosis, which has many causes — one of which is long-term use of alcohol. Transplant centers often require a sobriety period — usually 6 months — before a patient can receive a liver transplant. This protocol almost immediately disqualifies severe alcoholic hepatitis patients. Their liver failure may come on suddenly, without warning, allowing little time for alcohol recovery.
About our Program
We provide addiction and transplant treatment to patients with severe forms of alcoholic hepatitis. The program aims to transplant those patients with severe illness and holistically treat those who are not as sick.
Each patient at Hume-Lee receives a full evaluation and consultation with the center’s multidisciplinary transplant team to ensure they are qualified for transplantation. This is in line with our evaluation of patients with other conditions that may exclude them from transplant at other centers, such as those who are older, are obese or suffer from complex cardiovascular conditions.
For patients on the path to one day needing a liver transplant, our team connects the patient with the appropriate resources and care.
For patients who urgently need liver transplantation, our team performs appropriate behavioral health treatment while implementing strict protocol ensuring the patient has adequate support from family and friends and the commitment to continue addiction treatment post-transplant.
We require the patient to sign a contract committing to a mutually agreed upon care plan.
Following transplant, the patient will need a variety of treatments. Transplant and behavioral health teams follow the patient closely post-transplant to ensure health, safety and care coordination for additional resources. This team also uses telehealth and provides virtual behavioral health appointments.
Patients are all followed by a dedicated transplant coordinator, who manages their transplant care and coordination.
For more information or for referrals, call (804) 828-4104.