Do you know that your liver is like an elastic band? it is our body's second largest organ(the first being the skin)and is a hard-working one. It aids in metabolism by breaking down all of the nutrients from food. It can bear a lot of stress and abuse but can only extend for so long before it breaks. Liver transplantation is considered to be a last resort treatment option for a critically ill person with severe liver disease. In recent times(August,2021), a virtual meeting of top-notch doctors and specialists had come to the conclusion that there was a growing demand for liver transplants because liver cirrhosis and other chronic liver illnesses were on the rise. In this blog, we are going to discuss a few facts with our panel of liver specialists in Mumbai, that you need to know about.

Your guidance to understand the procedure- Liver Transplant

A liver transplant is a surgery that replaces a diseased or unhealthy liver with one from a living or deceased donor. When a person has ESLD (End-Stage Liver Disease), liver transplantation is a last-ditch effort to prolong the life of a dying patient.

What are the conditions that can lead to ESLD(End-stage liver Disease)?

Several conditions can affect a healthy liver and require liver transplantation as a treatment option.

• Acute liver disease like hepatitis, long-standing infection, drug-induced injury.
• Chronic liver diseases due to long-term disease.
• Hepatitis -B,Hepatitis-C
• Excessive alcohol abuse
• Metabolic disorder
• Cirrhosis
• autoimmune hepatitis
• Biliary atresia(inborn liver disease)
• NAFLD( Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease)
• Metabolic disorder

In case of adults patients, who need a liver transplant, are mostly affected with cirrhosis or due to excessive alcohol intake.

Do all patients get a liver transplant?

All patients who need a liver transplant, might not get one. Before considering a liver transplant as a treatment option for you, your doctor will run some tests. Only after evaluating those test results, he/she can recommend you to go for it. There are multiple factors that should be considered to determine whether liver transplantation will be appropriate for the patient or not. A patient can be a good candidate for liver transplant only if-

• a person with end-stage liver disease who is otherwise well enough to go through the entire surgical operation without difficulties.
• Who is a nonsmoker and non-alcoholic, as smoking has been shown to impede healing and increase postoperative complications
• An individual with no other systemic disorders such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or vasculitis.
• And those who can faithfully take their medicines after the surgery for the rest of their lives and follow all of the doctor's instructions.

How can you get a liver for a liver transplant?

Livers can be taken from living people as well as the deceased or the dead.

• The operation is known as cadaveric liver transplantation when it is taken from a deceased individual. The donors are mostly people who have died as a result of car accidents, brain tumors, or brain hemorrhages and have been certified brain dead by the hospital.
• When a kidney is extracted from a first-degree relative such as a brother, sister, parents, or child, it is referred to as a related living donor. Because the liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate on its own, a healthy donor can give a portion of his or her kidney to known recipients. As a result, you will be able to help others while also having your liver.

A close cousin is preferable in most circumstances since the tissue type and blood groups are likely to match.

• Unrelated living donor—a liver is obtained from a person who is not related to the patient and is a stranger to the recipient in this situation.

There are a few quires that you should need to know about the donation of the liver for a liver transplant:

• Is liver donation safe?

YES, it is a completely safe procedure. This is due to its ability to quickly regenerate (within 2-3 months) once a portion of it is removed. The donor has no long-term side effects, does not need to take any medication for more than 2-3 weeks, and returns to normalcy within a month. In three months, he can begin rigorous physical exercise (weight lifting, for example).

• What are the requirements that need to be matched for a donor and a recipient's liver?

Unlike bone marrow transplant, only the size of the individual and blood group compatibility is necessary for a liver transplant.

What is the success rate of liver transplants in India?

The success rate is about 88-90%. According to the data from the Indian Liver Transplant Registry, more than 1800 liver transplants are performed in India per annum. In October,2021, a transplanted liver successfully being reused for the second time in a patient’s body and saves his life. This was one of a kind liver transplant surgery performed in India.

Conclusion- if you want to get an expert opinion from our liver specialist in Jupiter hospital, you can contact us at the given number and get your liver health checked by one of the best doctors in India. Take care of your liver, and it will take care of you.