Supporting and educating patients and families on the intestinal failure,
intestinal rehabilitation and intestinal and multivisceral transplantation journey.
Vital Signs
Vital Signs
Many children have high blood pressure after their transplant. Anti-rejection medicine may increase blood pressure It is vital to take blood pressure medicines as ordered by the transplant doctor.
When you get home, you may be asked to keep a daily record of your child’s blood pressure, weight, and temperature. Call the coordinator if the reading is not normal for your child. If there is a problem, the coordinator may ask you for your child’s recent vital blood pressure or temperature. Bring the blood pressure record with you when you visit the transplant clinic.
When to Call the Transplant Coordinator
Please call the transplant office or the on-call transplant coordinator any time you have questions or concerns about your child’s health. Call the transplant coordinator right away if your child has (or whatever the reccomendations of your respective transplant center):
Redness, swelling, drainage or pain at the incision site or other sites.
Any redness, drainage, swelling or damage to the drain, if your child has one.
Any fever over 101.0° or a fever of 100.0-101.0 for over 24 hours.
Diarrhea or vomiting that lasts more than two to three hours.
Weight gain or swelling.
Headaches or dizziness.
Exposure to chicken pox or shingles.
Any rashes.
Stomach pain.
Any decrease or darkening of urine.
Poor appetite or fluid intake.
Cold hands, fingers or toes.
Also call if your child:
Is not able to take his medicine.
Is sleepy and doesn’t want to wake up (lethargy).
In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department right away.
Possible responses to fever: You may be asked to take your child to the nearest emergency room. For a fever, your child may be evaluated with a culture of the blood, throat tissue, or urine; a chest x-ray, tests of liver enzymes, digestive enzymes, blood glucose, and other factors in the blood. Your child’s symptoms and physical condition will also be assessed, and other tests will be determined, if necessary.
Acetaminophen and Aspirin Protocol
It is usually not recommended for a transplant patient to take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or aspirin for a fever unless your transplant coordinator has told you otherwise. This is because the medications can ‘mask’ the fever and you will never know if your child’s fever is getting worse or better on its own. Once your child is examined by the appropriate medical professionals, then the transplant team may advise you of the appropriate medications you can give your child to help lower the fever. Also consult your transplant team before given your child any over-the-counter medications.
