Hepatology

LifeLink’s Liver Disease Treatment program provides prompt evaluation and a multidisciplinary approach to best address a wide range of illnesses.  Working with infectious disease and gastrointestinal specialists as well as primary care physicians, the program combines evaluation, interventional modalities and surgical options to offer a full spectrum of liver services to the community. We invite you to review our most recent Report to the Community.

Our physicians and surgeons offer treatment for liver patients with an advantage extending beyond transplantation.  We encourage early referrals to best provide individualized care for a number of conditions, including:

• chronic hepatitis                       

• cholestatic liver disease         

• metastatic tumors

• immune liver disease                  

• liver/bile duct tumors             

• biliary obstructions

• genetic liver disease                   

• portal hypertension                  

• gall bladder disease

Viral Hepatitis Clinic

LifeLink's Viral Hepatitis clinic was formed in an effort to raise awareness, provide education and effective treatment, and manage the health of those with Hepatitis B and C in the community. Dr. Mendoza provides health and disease management to patients with compromised liver function with the help of a dedicated nurse practitioner who specializes in the care of patients with Viral Hepatitis.

Transplant Medicine

Since reactivating the liver transplant program September 1996, LifeLink has provided more than 500 liver transplants, utilizing the latest diagnostic and surgical techniques. Our one-year patient survival rate is 89%, and current graft survival rate is 84%. National patient and graft survival rates average 86% and 81% respectively.

Performing liver transplant surgery at Tampa General Hospital, LifeLink physicians are supported by a multidisciplinary team, including registered nurses with concentrated training in liver transplantation and post-surgery care. Patients also benefit from new research protocols, including innovative drug trials for the latest immunosuppressive therapy available post-transplant.

For Patients