Inside the Liver Transplant Process at UAMS | A Comprehensive, Team-Based Approach

Описание: At UAMS Health, liver transplantation is approached through a truly comprehensive, team-based model designed to support patients through every step of a complex and life-changing process. In this video, Dr. Mauricio Garcia explains how UAMS Health brings together a highly collaborative team—including transplant hepatologists, surgeons, social workers, transplant nurse coordinators, dietitians, and specialized pharmacists—to guide patients and their families from evaluation to recovery. The goal is not just to treat liver disease, but to minimize the emotional and physical stress of the transplant journey by surrounding each patient with personalized care.

Liver transplant medicine has evolved dramatically over the past 30 years. Once reserved for very specific cases, liver transplantation is now being used to treat a broader range of conditions, including metabolic diseases, liver cancers such as hepatocellular carcinoma and even colorectal metastases, and other systemic diseases that impair liver function.

Dr. Garcia also discusses the shifting landscape of liver disease. With the success of antiviral therapies, hepatitis C is no longer the leading cause of liver transplantation. Instead, the main drivers today are the rising rates of alcohol use disorder and metabolic-associated liver disease, also known as fatty liver disease. He emphasizes that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, as even moderate use increases the risk for liver disease, cancer, diabetes, and other serious health outcomes.

This video offers a clear look into how UAMS Health is leading with innovation, compassion, and comprehensive care to improve liver transplant outcomes and patient quality of life.