What Is A Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant is the last treatment patients undergo when all options like medical treatment & alcohol abstinence fails to restore their liver health condition.

Before understanding in detail about the transplant process, let’s understand what is the function of our largest internal organ.

Liver is a key human organ that needs utmost care to lead a normal healthy life. It is  responsible for critical body functions like producing proteins, producing bile, removing bacteria & toxins from the blood, processing nutrients, preventing infection, regulating immune responses and much more.

We need a liver transplant when our liver fails due to disease or injury. In most cases, patients suffering from different liver diseases could be treated by non surgical procedures.

But if one’s liver has been damaged without repair due to various factors like alcohol addiction, cirrhosis etc.., surgical operations is required.

Self restraint towards alcohol and medical treatment for six months could improve the patients’ liver condition & they may survive for longer periods without the need for transplant.

Liver transplant could also be rarely required for healthy person in the event of unforeseen liver failure.

The surgery involves removing a damaged liver & replacing it with a healthy one – either from a diseased donor or living donor.

It is a fact that liver has the unique ability to regenerate itself shortly after the surgery. Living donor liver transplant is hence a very popular available option, instead of just waiting for diseased liver.

Who needs Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant is the final treatment for individuals experiencing end-stage irreversible harm to their liver.

The most common reason for need of this surgery adults is Liver Cirrhosis. For children, the most common reason is biliary atresia. Other reasons for transplantation are liver cancer, benign liver tumors, and hereditary diseases.

What Are The Risks With the Transplant?

Liver transplant surgery carries a certain amount of risks as it is a complicated procedure. One type of risks has to do with the procedure itself. The 2nd type of risks is due to drugs given to the donor to prevent rejection of the donor liver after the transplant.

The risks associated with transplant procedure include:

• Bleeding
• Blood Clots
• Donated Liver Failure
• Liver malignant growth like hepatoblastoma
• Bile Duct Leaks or other bile duct complications
• Infection
• Nervous system complications

Side effects of medications:

Certain anti-rejection drugs are administered to patients after transplant to prevent rejection of donor liver.

These could include;

• Bone thinning
• High Blood Pressure
• Diarrhea
• Migraine
• Diabetes
• BDyslipidaemia

Evaluation Procedure for the transplant

Once you have selected a transplant Hospital, first you will undergo an evaluation procedure before the transplant to determine whether you meet the requirements or not. Each hospital has its own eligibility criteria.

What does the evaluation procedure check?

• Do you have any pre-existing illness that could deter the Liver Transplant?
• Are you healthy enough for the surgery and would your body be able to endure lifelong post-transplant medications?
• Do you have any addiction to Alcohol or Smoking or any other tobacco products?

Specific tests for the patients (Recipient)

• Laboratory tests, such as blood and urine tests to assess the health of your organs, including your liver
• Imaging tests (Ultrasound/CT Scan (if required) of your liver)
• Heart tests to determine the health of your heart.
• Additional Routine test like cancer screening test
• Psychological evaluation to check if patient has any depression or anxiety issues
• Meetings with post liver transplant patients
• Addiction counseling for recipients who are struggling with how to quit alcohol, drug or tobacco
• General Counseling like what diets to follow, maintain weight, practice meditation etc.
• Financial counseling to explain to the patient the costs for the transplant and to what costs are covered by his insurance