A liver transplant often takes four to eight hours, but the time can vary significantly. The diseased liver is removed through an incision in your upper abdomen. The donor liver is then placed inside your abdomen, and blood vessels from your body are attached to those of the new liver. The bile duct of the donor liver is attached to your bile duct or a segment of intestine so that bile can drain into your small intestine.

Family and friends will need to wait on the first floor of the hospital-- in the surgery waiting area.

Make sure you sign in at the desk and sign out if you leave so the surgeons will be able to find you. You will be periodically updated during the surgery.