After Surgery: Returning You to Health
Contact Info
Main office number
650-725-9891
Intake Patient Care Coordinators
Norma Guerrero 650-498-4045
Rochelle Stamper 650-723-5702
Despite the seriousness of transplantation surgery, in many cases recovery is surprisingly rapid, and similar to recovery from other general surgeries.
In-Hospital Care
Following surgery, you’re located in the designated transplant unit for care. If you’re considered a high-risk patient, you will be cared for in the Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to the transplant unit once it is safe. Expect to stay in the hospital three to five days under the care of your transplant team.
Care After Leaving the Hospital
All members of your transplant team contribute to your discharge planning.
Your Inpatient Coordinator coordinates patient and family education, as well as your immediate follow-up care.
Your Outpatient Coordinator will be able to answer questions, address concerns and coordinate transplant clinic visits once you’ve left the hospital.
The Outpatient Coordinator also documents any side effects of medications or changes in your status and reviews them with the transplant physicians. He or she also provides you with continuing education as needed.
We provide one on one personalized teaching session with our patients prior to their discharge. During this teaching session, each patient is provided with a discharge manual that they can refer to as needed in future. Our goal is to assist our patients in adjusting to their new life style following transplantation, learn about their medications, be familiar with signs and symptoms of infection and rejection, and know how to contact us 24/7. At every post transplant clinic visit, we review medication regimen, educational information provided to patients as well as the importance of preventative care with our patients.
Your discharge appointment schedule will normally be:
- Twice a week the first month
- Once a week the second month
- Every two weeks the third month
We perform laboratory studies at every visit to monitor your kidney function and general medical status. Additional studies are performed as needed.
Between clinic visits, you’re encouraged to call your Outpatient Coordinator with any questions or concerns. If you begin to experience signs of infection, rejection or any change in condition, you should call an Outpatient Coordinator immediately. They’re available to receive calls 24/7. Should your condition require you to remain in the Stanford area temporarily, a transplant social worker can help you and your family secure accommodations and other support services you may need.
Approximately three months after transplantation, you’re transferred back to the care of your referring nephrologist. However, we continue to manage your immunosuppression, and Stanford transplant specialists are always available for consultation.
Your transplant team continues to work with you for the life of the transplant organ and reviews all laboratory data. And we have you return for routine follow-ups in the transplant clinic at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, and then yearly thereafter.