Liver Transplant Surgery – When Do You Need and What to Expect?

A liver transplant surgery is also called a hepatic transplant. It helps save your life when your liver is not in a position to function anymore. The treatment involves replacing it with full, or part, of a healthy liver. This may come from a living or deceased donor. Whether it’s end-stage liver disease, acute failure, liver cancer, or metabolic complaints, this lifesaving procedure offers a chance for advanced quality of life and prolonged survival. In this blog, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadagi a renowned liver transplant surgeon in Bangalore will explore the circumstances that need liver transplant surgery, ranging from alcohol-related damage to inherited metabolic conditions. also, He will look into what individuals can expect during the transplant process, including post-operative care, medicine regulations, implicit complications, and the long-tenure outlook for donors. Join us as we untwist the journey of liver transplantation and the transformative impact it can have on the lives of those in want.

Liver transplantation is a lifesaving procedure where a damaged or diseased liver is displaced with a healthy liver from a patron. It’s usually demanded for end-stage liver complaints, acute liver failure, liver cancer, or certain metabolic conditions. The process involves rigorous evaluation, waitlisting for a patron liver, surgery, and post-transplant care. It offers a stopgap for advanced quality of life and survival for those facing severe liver-related conditions.

According to Best Gastroenterologist in Bangalore, Dr. Bhushan Chittawadagi states that there are several circumstances where a liver transplant may be necessary. Here are some of it:

• Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver, often as a result of alcohol misuse or hepatitis.
• Alcohol-related liver disease: This condition can occur if a person overconsumes alcohol, which damages the liver. People with alcohol-related liver disease will need to stop drinking alcohol and have 6 months of mental health support before receiving a liver transplant.
• Acute hepatic necrosis: This is the death of liver tissue, possibly as a result of acute infection or medication side effects.
• Biliary atresia: This is a rare congenital liver and bile duct disease that affects newborns. It is the most common trusted Source reason for liver transplants in children.
• Hepatitis: Hepatitis is a viral infection that affects the liver. Medical professionals categorize hepatitis into five strains: A, B, C, D, and E. Some strains cause short-term infections, while others cause chronic infections.
• Autoimmune hepatitis: In this condition, a person’s immune system targets their liver, causing cirrhosis and liver failure.
• Liver cancer: People with a type of cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma can be eligible for liver transplantation if they meet certain criteria, such as if their tumor is less than 5 centimeters (cm) in diameter or if they have multiple tumors less than 3 cm in diameter.
• Acute liver failure: A person may develop acute liver failure if they take too much acetaminophen. Other causes of this uncommon condition are blood vessel blockages, genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and reactions to medication.

You cannot have a transplant if you have:

• cancer in another part of your body
• serious heart, lung, or nerve disease
• active alcohol or illegal drug abuse
• an active, severe infection
• inability to follow your doctor’s instructions

There exist two types of liver transplant options – Living donor liver transplant and deceased donor liver transplant.

Living donor liver transplants involve eliminating a section of the liver from a healthy living donor and then, implanting it into the patient who is the recipient with end-stage liver disease. Both the donor’s and recipient’s liver portions grow back to normal size in a few weeks.

The donor could be a relative, spouse, or friend; they will have to undergo medical and psychological assessments to ensure the lowest possible risks. The living donors and livers to be donated are tested before transplant surgery. The testing ensures the liver is healthy, matches the blood type, and is the right size so it has the best chance of working in your body.

A deceased donor liver transplant involves a donor who could be a victim of an accident, or who has a brain hemorrhage or any kind of head injury. In such cases, the donor’s heart still beats, but the brain stops functioning. A person is then considered legally dead as his or her brain permanently and irreversibly stops functioning. At this stage, the donor usually is in a critical care unit and the liver is donated, with the consent of the next of kin. Such a donor is referred to as a cadaveric donor.