Intestinal Transplant Services

UPMC performed the world’s first liver-intestinal transplant in 1990. Since then, UPMC has established itself as an international leader, offering a range of transplantation and rehabilitation services for patients with intestinal failure. Our team specializes in both lifesaving intestinal transplants and innovative rehabilitation therapies that may help some patients avoid surgery altogether.

UPMC provides multidisciplinary care through our team of world-class surgeons, gastroenterologists, internists, and dietitians who treat each case with the most advanced therapies available. As one of the most extensive intestinal transplant programs in the world, we have performed more than 670 combined adult and pediatric intestinal and multivisceral transplants, accounting for more than 11% of the world’s total intestinal transplants.

Start Your Transplant Journey

What Is An Intestinal Transplant?

 An intestinal transplant replaces a damaged or diseased small intestine with a healthy small intestine from a deceased donor. It is performed to treat irreversible intestinal failure.

What Conditions Do We Treat? 

Our experts provide medical, surgical, and rehabilitation treatments for a range of conditions that lead to irreversible intestinal failure, including:

• Abdominal trauma.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Other complex gastrointestinal disorders.
• Short bowel syndrome.
• Vascular occlusion.

Who’s Eligible for Intestinal Rehabilitation or Transplant?

You may benefit from our program if you:

• Are unable to absorb nutrients through your digestive tract.
• Have intestinal failure.
• Rely on total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
• Have complications from TPN or other treatments.
• Have not experienced results from other medical or surgical therapies.

What Services, Treatments, and Procedures Do We Offer? 

We offer a full spectrum of services to restore digestive health and improve quality of life, including:

General services

• Financial counseling and insurance support.
• Multidisciplinary care coordination.
• Patient and care partner education.

Diagnostic services and procedures

• Comprehensive transplant evaluations.
• Imaging and lab testing.
• Nutritional assessments.

Specialty services

• Intestinal rehabilitation to reduce or eliminate TPN dependence.
• Surgical alternatives to reverse intestinal failure.
• Veteran care coordination through a VA partnership.

Treatments

• Isolated intestinal transplant.
• Multivisceral transplant (may include stomach, pancreas, liver, etc.).
• Post-transplant monitoring and long-term follow-up.

What Can I Expect? 

From your first consult to long-term recovery, we guide you every step of the way.

Preparing for your visit

• UPMC accepts self-referrals and physician referrals.
• You’ll receive a packet outlining insurance coverage and transplant costs.
• A care partner must accompany you during evaluations.

Your first consult

• Meet with our transplant team to discuss risks, benefits, and options.
• Undergo outpatient tests and scans over a one-week evaluation period.

Your care team

Your care team will include:

• Pharmacist — Helps you manage your medications before and after transplant.
• Physician assistant — Assists with medical questions, education, and concerns throughout the transplant process.
• Registered dietitian — Manages your nutritional needs before and after transplant.
• Social worker — Meets with you before and after your transplant to discuss long-term coping strategies and adjustments.
• Transplant coordinator — Provides care and education before and after your transplant.
• Transplant surgeon — Performs your intestinal transplant.

Surgery and recovery

• Admission to the transplant unit for pre-op preparation.
• Transplant surgery performed by expert surgeons.
• Post-op care, including nutrition support and regular follow-ups.

Why Choose UPMC for Intestinal Transplant?

When you choose UPMC for an intestinal transplant, you will have access to:

• 24/7 support — Our on-call transplant coordinator and surgeon are available at all times.
• A multidisciplinary team — Includes surgeons, gastroenterologists, dietitians, and more.
• Expertise — Our team has performed more than 670 combined adult and pediatric intestinal and multivisceral transplants since 1990, representing more than 11 percent of the world's total intestinal transplants.
• Innovation — UPMC has been at the forefront of intestinal transplant and rehabilitation since performing the first-ever liver-intestinal transplant.
• Veteran care — Dedicated services through VA partnership.

Contact Us

We’re here to help you take the next step.

• Phone: 412-647-5800
• Contact UPMC about transplant referral.

By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-12-09.