Tests and Investigations

The following is a summary of the tests you can anticipate to undergo:

X-ray PA & Lateral – an x-ray is taken of your chest. This helps the doctors to assess the condition of your heart and lungs.

ECG – this test records how your heart is working. The test takes only a few minutes to do.

Pulmonary Function Tests – these tests will help the doctors to assess how well your lungs are working.

Abdominal Ultrasound – this test is safe and painless.
a) It uses sound waves to take pictures of the organs and tissues in your abdomen. This helps doctors to assess the condition of your liver and spleen.

Preparation for test: You may be asked not to ear or drink (NPO) anything for several hours before the test.

Length of time of test: This test will take about 30 minutes.

Abdominal Ultrasound with Doppler Hepatic Vessels – this test is safe and painless.
This test uses sound waves to do two jobs:

1) Takes pictures of the organs and tissues in your abdomen.
2) Checks the movement of blood through your liver.

Preparation for Test: Nothing to eat or drink since midnight.
Length of time of test: 20 – 30 minutes.

Gastroscopy – for this test the doctor will place a tube down your throat. This tube has a light in it that allows the doctors to examine your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

Preparation for the Test: Nothing to eat or drink since midnight.
Length of time of test: 20 – 30 minutes

2-D Echo of Heart – a non-invasive test which uses high frequency sound waves to take moving pictures of your heart. This helps your doctors to assess how well your heart is working or if there are any abnormalities. There are no special preparations for the test. It takes about 1 hour to complete.

T-tube Cholangiogram – after your surgery a tube (T-tube) will be placed into your bile duct. Pictures will be taken of your bile duct to make sure they are working well, and do not become plugged up. Before these pictures are taken, dye will be injected into your T-tube.

Preparation for the Test: You will be asked not to eat or drink anything for 10 –1 2 hours before the test.

Length of time of Test: approximately 1 hour

Liver Biopsy – this test is done by your doctors to see how well the liver is working. A tiny sample of your liver is drawn through a needle which the doctor inserts through the right side of your abdomen.

Preparation for the test: None

Length of time of Test: approximately 15 minutes

Abdominal Angiogram – this test takes a series of pictures of the blood vessels in your abdomen, especially around your liver. This helps the doctors to check the movement of blood through these vessels.

Preparation for the Test: intravenous

Length of time of Test: 30 – 45 minutes


Abdominal CT Scan – this test will take x-rays of the organs and tissues in your abdomen in a layered fashion. This will help the doctors to see if there are any abnormalities in the abdominal cavity.

Preparation for the Test: none

Length of time of test: 30 – 45 minutes

M.A.L.G. Skin Test – this is a skin test to see if you are allergic to horse serum. Horse serum is used to make M.A.L.G. This is an anti-rejection drug that you will be given for 7 – 10 days, immediately after your transplant.

A.B.G.’s/Blood Gases – this is a blood sample taken from an artery (usually in the wrist area). The results of this test will show the oxygen percentage in your blood, therefore, how well your lungs are working.