Liver Transplant

Quick Facts

Liver is the largest organ in the body with more than 500 functions. Its primary functions include.

Processing nutrients, medications and hormones
Producing bile, which helps the body absorb fats, cholesterol and fat-soluble vitamins
Making proteins that help the blood clot
Removing bacteria and toxins from the blood
Preventing infection and regulating immune responses

Who needs a transplant?

A person who suffers from severe liver disease that hampers a major proportion of liver functions needs a liver transplantation. This can be reflected via the liver function tests, imaging and liver biopsy if needed. Usually, people with long term liver diseases, like that of liver cirrhosis reach end stage liver diseases, also called liver failure.

Other Causes of liver failure include :

Pre - Transplant Evaluation

Several tests are required before going ahead with a transplantation process. These include the following:

Diagnostic tests for surgery- These include blood tests, liver function test, urine analysis, renal function test, blood grouping & Rh test, other serum investigations
Donor availability
Financial aids
Cardiac assessment
Ultrasound, MRI for hepatic imaging

Surgery

Liver transplantation involves both the donor and the patient. In the case of a previously preserved liver, the donor part isn’t required.

In a usual liver transplantation surgery, following steps are followed: :

A part of the liver is extracted from a suitable donor through an incision in the abdomen.
The patient undergoes a similar surgery of the abdomen.
The damaged part of the liver or the entire organ is removed out of the patient’s body and the donor liver is placed in its area.
Blood circulation is insured to the newly placed liver and the abdomen is closed by sutures.

Postoperative Care

For Donors

Usually donors are up and about within first 2 days after surgery. They’re supposed to be on a liquid diet for the first 1 or 2 days then followed by soft solid diet. They can can begin walking around from 2nd day onwards. They can be discharged from the hospital within a week and are required to consume multivitamins and painkillers for a few days thereafter.

For Patients

Post surgery, the first two days are very crucial. The patient is constantly monitored. Various investigations are carried out post surgery like liver function test, and blood tests and doppler study in order to ensure that the patient is stable. As the patient makes progress catheters and drains are removed eventually. Dietary precautions are taken and the patient is specialised neutropenic diet after liver transplantation. Later on with the help of respiratory physiotherapy and other means, the patient can begin walking by 2nd day. Various medicines are administered to the patient to ensure good sleep and pain-free recovery.

Living with a Transplant

Several instructions are given to the patient post liver transplantation. These include lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, self-care, wound care, medicine and exercise prescriptions.

Transplantation has become a common process and comes with a lot of relief to the patient and the patient’s family. One can go back to leading a normal life after the transplantation with certain precautions.It is important that the patient and his family are well aware of the implications post surgery and are cautious about the same.