All You Need to Know about Liver Transplant

The liver is a pivotal human organ that performs more than 500 functions in the body including filtering of the blood and removal of toxins, storage of vitamins and minerals, metabolization of drugs, and production of bile. If a person is suffering from prolonged liver diseases like end-stage cirrhosis or liver cancer, then all these functions are compromised. In this context, a liver fails to recover from traditional treatment methods and thus reaches a crucial stage of damage. A liver transplant in India might be the best option for the patients to enhance their chance of survival. These days, many best liver hospitals in India are offering affordable liver transplant surgeries so that the patients can lead a healthy life.

What is liver transplantation?

A liver transplant or hepatic transplant is a surgical procedure where the best liver doctors in India remove a diseased liver (or a portion of diseased) and replace it with a healthy one. The healthy liver might come from a deceased or a living donor. These surgeries are performed for more than 38 years and the long-term success rate is 55–60 per cent. A plethora of statistics has also claimed that nearly 90 per cent of patients survive one year after the surgery.

When does one require a liver transplant?

Cirrhosis is the most common cause of liver transplant surgery. Cirrhosis is a condition when your liver gradually worsens and can’t function properly because of chronic injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and blocks the flow of blood through the liver. Cirrhosis can be caused by viruses including hepatitis B and C, alcohol, autoimmune liver diseases, build-up of fat in the liver, and hereditary liver diseases. People who develop cirrhosis due to unrestricted use of alcohol may also need a liver transplant.

· For children, the prime reason for liver transplantation is biliary atresia. Biliary atresia is a rare condition in newborn babies, where the common bile duct between the liver and the small intestine is congested or absent.

· Other reasons for liver transplants are primary liver cancer, benign liver tumours, and hereditary diseases.

How are candidates for liver transplants determined?

The best liver doctors in India conduct a review of your medical history and a variety of tests. The common tests for evaluation are blood tests, X — rays, and other tests that will help the experts to know when you need a transplant and whether a transplant can be performed safely to improve your condition. The doctors also monitor other health parameters like your heart, lungs, kidneys, immune system, and mental health-will before performing surgery.

Can Anyone with Liver Problems Get a Transplant?

A liver transplant surgery won’t be suitable for you if you have

· Cancer in other parts of the body

· Serious heart, nerve, lung, and kidney problems

· Severe alcohol or drug abuse

· An active infection

Will Liver Transplantation Be a Treatment of Last Resort, When Everything Else Has Failed?

If medical treatment is supposed to prolong survival with good quality of life, then transplantation can be performed at the last stage. For patients with poor quality of life due to complications arising from liver cirrhosis, liver transplantation should be performed under optimal care.

How Long Does It Take to Get a New Liver?

Any eligible liver transplant patient is given a priority score based on three simple blood tests (creatinine, bilirubin, and INR). The score is known as the MELD (model of end-stage liver disease) score in adults and PELD (pediatric end-stage liver disease) in children.

Patients with the highest scores are in the top priority list for liver transplants. But you can’t predict how long it will take for a liver to become available. Your transplant coordinator will inform you how long you need to wait for a new liver.

Where Does a Liver for Transplant Come From?

There are two types of liver transplant options: living donor transplant and deceased donor transplant.

A living donor transplant is ideal for patients who are having end-stage liver disease. A living donor may be a blood relative, spouse, or friend who is a healthy adult and doesn’t have any significant health complications.

In a deceased donor liver transplant, the donor may be a victim of an accident, brain haemorrhage or head injury. The donor’s heart is still beating, but the brain has stopped functioning. This donor is known as a cadaveric donor.

Do The Donor and The Recipient Have to Be Matched by Tissue Type, Sex, Age, etc.?

No. For liver transplants, the only requirement is the donor and recipient should be of approximately the same size and compatible blood types.

Is Liver Donation Safe?

Liver donation is a completely safe process. The donor doesn’t suffer from any long-term effects and may get back to normalcy in a month. He/she can resume strenuous physical activities within 3 months.

What Are Some of The Major Risks Pre and Post Surgery?

Before surgery, the core risk is the development of some acute complication of liver disease. In this scenario, the patient is not eligible for a liver transplant. Immediately after surgery, bleeding, poor function of the grafted liver, and infections are major risks.

What Are the Overall Chances of Surviving a Liver Transplant?

Though the survival rate depends, still, nearly 85–90 per cent of children and adults do well after getting discharged from the hospital.

How Long Would Surgery Take?

Liver transplants usually take from 4 to 14 hours. During the operation, the experts remove your diseased liver and replace it with the donor’s liver.

What Happens During This Recovery Period?

Initially, the patients are kept in the intensive care unit where all their body functions are monitored. Once the patient is transferred to the ward, blood testing, physiotherapy, etc. are prescribed to regain muscle strength.

When Will I Be Able to Go Home?

A patient needs to stay nearly 2–3 weeks after the liver transplantation surgery. During the initial days, you can start with liquid food and then switch to solid food as your new liver starts to function properly.

How Is Rejection Prevented?

When the liver is transplanted from the donor to the recipient, the immune system of the recipient triggers the same response against the new organ and this is called rejection. This rejection can damage the transplanted organ. After the liver transplant, the doctors will prescribe immunosuppressants that will suppress your immune system to prevent it from rejecting your new liver.

How Do I Take Care of My Liver After I Leave the Hospital?

Once you are at home, you need to do certain blood tests at regular intervals to check whether your new liver is functioning properly or not. Pay attention to your diet. At first, you can start with liquid food and then, solids. Before taking any medication (apart from your prescribed one), consult with your doctor. You can do normal exercises like walking, yoga, meditation, etc. after your surgery to boost up your mental and physical health. Also, go for an annual check-up after the transplant surgery.

Can I go back to my daily activities?

Yes, after a successful liver transplant, you can get back to your normal activities.

· Within 1 month, you can resume your work.

· Do light exercises after liver transplant surgery

· Within 3 months, you can start strenuous activities

· You can resume your sex life after liver transplantation. But women should avoid getting pregnant within 1 year after the surgery.

With the advent of the latest technology, liver transplant in India has become affordable and easier. Now, many reputed and the best liver hospitals in India are embracing patients with affordable liver transplant surgeries so that they can get back to their normal life quickly.