General Surgery in Transplant Patients
After your kidney, liver or pancreas transplant, you may, at some time, need additional surgery unrelated to your transplant. Because of your transplant anatomy and immunosuppression, there are some instances where it might make sense to consult with the transplant surgeon who did your surgery, before undergoing other general surgical procedures.
Transplant surgeons first complete training as general surgeons and then go on to specialize in solid organ transplantation. They are familiar with your reconfigured anatomy, and can make appropriate adjustments to immunosuppressive medications around the time of surgery. Our transplant surgeons will also closely monitor you for early signs of infection and any complications that may be related to the general operation, and then move swiftly to address any issues.
Some procedures can certainly be done safely by a general surgeon, but others might be more appropriately done by a transplant surgeon. Consult with your transplant surgeon if you have any questions by contacting the Transplant Institute at
617-632-9700.