Financial Assistance for Multivisceral Organ Transplant

What Is a Multivisceral Organ Transplant?

An intestinal or multivisceral organ transplant involves transplanting multiple organs at the same time: typically the liver, small intestine, and abdominal organs like the stomach and pancreas. These transplants are a treatment pathway for individuals with certain severe gastrointestinal diagnoses.

These transplants replace a patient’s entire gastrointestinal system with new, healthier organs, which is typically the only way to reboot the gastrointestinal tract for better health. This treatment may be an option for people who can’t receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or liquid nutrition intravenously.

Which Medical Conditions Can Result in a Multivisceral Organ Transplant?

Most commonly, a multivisceral organ transplant occurs when a patient is living with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. There are many conditions that can lead to the need for a multivisceral organ transplant, but some of the most common are:

• Aganglionosis/Hirschsprung’s Disease
• Blocked or obstructed intestines (atresia)
• Desmoid tumor with intra-abdominal infiltration
• End-stage liver disease (cirrhosis)
• Gastroschisis
• Gardner’s syndrome
• Malabsorption
• Massive resection of the intestine
• Mesenteric thrombosis
• Microvillus inclusion
• Necrotizing enterocolitis
• Pseudo-obstruction
• Short bowel syndrome
• Trauma: some trauma victims who survive acute illness develop lingering, debilitating syndromes that can disrupt certain abdominal organs, according to the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. Intestinal failure due to catastrophic accidents (car, sports, etc.) and diseases are just two traumatic types of traumatic experiences that could lead to a multivisceral organ transplant.
• Volvulus

How Much Does a Multivisceral Organ Transplant Cost?

Multivisceral organ transplant cost will vary depending on the number of organs and types of organs that will be transplanted. The average major pre-insurance costs for organ transplants include:

Regarding intestine transplant cost, also referred to as ITx, these procedures are much more costly than other transplant procedures on average because of the severity of the transplant. ITx involves a newer transplant technique developed just a few years ago that has now become standard for treating intestinal-related issues requiring transplants.

Other treatments for bowel/intestinal failure such as HPN, or home parenteral nutrition, are typically less effective but also less costly. However, while ITx has a high initial cost, research shows that the procedure is cost effective over HPN in adults by the fourth year post-transplant and cost saving by the fifth year post-transplant.

While multivisceral organ transplants are life-saving procedures, they can be life-disrupting for patients and their families before, during, and after transplant. Initial recovery alone can take more than a year with likely limitations to a patient’s activities and employment capabilities, and all transplant recipients typically take medication for the rest of their lives.

Common Costs Associated with a Multivisceral Transplant

Every organ transplant will come with a range of costs insurance may or may not cover. Almost every transplant candidate or recipient will incur some costs out of pocket. Here are a few common costs associated with organ transplants, including multivisceral transplants:

• Health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-pays
• Pre-transplant medications
• Unexpected pre-transplant hospitalizations
• Medical travel and temporary lodging while you are being listed for transplant
• Medical travel and temporary lodging when you receive the transplant
• Relocation or moving expenses due to the transplant
• Mileage, tolls, and parking fees for transplant-related medical travel
• Caregiver costs, including lost work
• Post-transplant immunosuppressants, which a transplant recipient must take for the rest of their life

Finding Financial Assistance for a Multivisceral Organ Transplant

The medical expenses associated with multivisceral procedures, rehabilitation funding for transplants, and long-term health care costs will vary. These costs can add up quickly–even with insurance.

Help Hope Live is your community-based fundraising source to assist with unmet medical expenses and related costs associated with a variety of transplants, including multivisceral procedures.

How Does Fundraising for Multivisceral Transplants Work?

The fundraising process with our nonprofit starts with a few simple steps:

1. Complete a short campaign request at helphopelive.org/get-started/apply
2. We will contact you if community-based fundraising is a possible option
3. You’ll be paired with a Client Services Coordinator
4. Your Coordinator will provide you with one-on-one fundraising help, including personalized materials and guidance on rallying your community, sharing your story on social media, reaching out to the press, planning in-person or virtual fundraising events, and much more