high risk liver transplant

My father had a kidney transplant (we have PKD) in December.  Since his surgery, he has been experiencing severe pain, swelling has not gone down, and is always sick.  After a few months, doctors decided to remove his diseased kidneys only to discover the problem is with his liver.  His liver is so large from the cysts he has trouble breathing, eating, and generally living life.  He was told a transplant is too high risk and out of the question, so to meet with a pain specialist to "keep him comfortable."  Since they were already willing to remove the kidneys, why is a liver transplant any more high risk?  His doctors are at the University of Maryland.  Is it possible to find a surgeon willing to give a different second opinion and if not, "keep him comfortable" is a prognosis of how long?  I saw him a few months ago and he was starting to look yellow already.  I want to help but I don't know where to start!?

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i am not sure why a liver transplant would be contraindicated and why it wasn't done concurrently with the renal transplant.  i recommend that you contact dr kirti shetty at georgetown or paul thuluvath at hopkins for another opinion.