My mom needs a liver transplant...

Hello there... this is my first post here.  My mom is a 60 year old woman currently in ICU with acute liver failure.  My mom has a history of alcoholism but quit drinking about 55 days ago.  She began taking antabuse to help her quit and the jdoctors are pretty certain that the antabuse, mixed with her other prescribed medications caused the acute failure.  

The hospital where she is now refuses to put her on the transplant list, even though it appears that the current treatment is not working at all.  Because of her history, their committee is rejecting her because she has had a drink within the last 6 months.  

My mom's INR's have steadily risen since she went to the hospital last Monday (6/28).  She was jaundiced and disoriented when she was admitted... now she is almost unconscious and has required breathing and feeding tubes.  We actually did make some minor progress today, as my mom woke up enough to look around a couple times (which she didn't for the previous two days), had a slight drop in her INR and appears to be breathing on her own.  They hope to take the breathing tube out tomorrow.

It appears likely that my mom will probably die without a transplant.  She has excellent insurance and the cash to cover the surgery even without insurance.  We would send her anywhere around the country, (or around the world), if they would put her on the transplant list.  I need some help here... is there ANYTHING that can be done ANYWHERE?  Please...

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

unfortunately i do not think that any center will transplant a patient who doesn't have adequate sobriety.  If it is true acute liver failure from antabuse use it might change the outlook however. She must improve and be able to get out of the ICU and then the chances of getting a program to proceed with transplantation will be better. transplants have recently performed in france in patients suffering from alcoholic hepatitis.

[snapperqueen]

Hello,

My husband had a liver transplant done in India, I was the donor it was live liver donor tranplant.  They will not transplant a cadaver liver.
If she can get an acceptable donor and has no cancer she could very well be help.  You should contact...Worldmedassist.com they will coordinate everything.  This could be a definite option for you.
We pray your mom gets well enough to undergo a transplant surgery.
My husband is 2 1/2 years post transplant.  Hope it helps

[jjcrimlaw]

Thank you for the responses.  We are still fighting to have my mom put on a transplant list somewhere.  She's been in ICU for16 days now.