Michelle Trachtenberg had a liver transplant — what to know about the surgery

No cause of death has been determined for Michelle Trachtenberg. The actor had received a liver transplant, but it is not known whether she suffered complications.

No cause of death has been determined for actor Michelle Trachtenberg, whose body was found on Wednesday at her Upper West Side home, according to the New York City chief medical examiner’s office.

A source told NBC New York that Trachtenberg, 39, had recently received a liver transplant. It is not known whether she suffered complications from that surgery. 

Three doctors who research or treat liver disease said that complications, such as infections or blood clots, are somewhat expected after a transplant, but patient outcomes are generally positive. The five-year survival rate exceeds 75%. 

“Typically, by the time that someone is leaving the hospital, there are usually all indications that the liver is working,” said Dr. Danielle Brandman, medical director for liver disease and transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.

Some serious complications that may arise after surgery include heart attacks and breakages or clots in the arteries or veins where the new liver was attached, which can lead to liver failure. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/michelle-trachtenberg-death-liver-transplant-rcna194092

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