Whether you are looking for a liver transplant in Turkey or in India, knowing how the procedure works are vital. As the largest organ in the abdomen, the liver weighs approximately 1200 – 1500 grams. Moreover, it accounts for approximately 2% of the total body weight. The liver has a remarkable ability to regenerate. This is the foundation of liver transplants and the reason why they exist as a possible treatment option. In this article, we are going to read about the surgical procedure, reasons, and restrictions of a liver transplant.
What is a Liver Transplant?
A liver transplant is a surgical process in which a donor’s healthy liver replaces the patient’s diseased liver. The liver can be transplanted as a complete organ or as a part. In some cases, the healthy liver comes from a deceased organ donor. However, in other cases, some healthy person may be a family member who can donate it. Someone with the same blood group as the patient can also donate a part of the liver to the patient. Living donors who donate part of their liver can survive and lead a healthy life.
Types of Liver Transplant
Deceased Donor (Cadaver) – In this process, the liver comes from brain-dead patients. Once a brain-dead patient is identified and deemed a potential donor, the blood supply to his body is artificially maintained. This is the guiding principle behind deceased organ donation. Patients who die as a result of head trauma, brain hemorrhage, or other causes of sudden death are organ donors
Living Donor – If a part of a normal, healthy liver is removed, the liver has the ability to regenerate. As a result, doctors can take a part of a live donor’s liver and implant it into another patient. When removed surgically from a living donor, the liver is transplanted into a recipient immediately.
The Surgical Procedure of Liver Transplant
As mentioned above, there are two types of liver transplants. The process is, although the same, still there are a few differences between these two. Let’s have a look.
Deceased donor liver transplant
To access your liver, the transplant surgeon makes a long incision across your abdomen. Your surgeon and your anatomy determine the size and location of your incision. The diseased liver is removed and replaced with a donor’s liver by the surgeon. Your blood vessels and bile ducts will then be connected to the donor’s liver by the surgeon. Depending on your circumstances, surgery could last up to 12 hours.
Once your new liver is in place, the surgeon will close the surgical incision with stitches and staples.
Living-donor liver transplantation
If you are receiving a living donor liver transplant, your surgery will schedule ahead of time. Surgeons begin by operating on the donor, removing the part of the liver that will transplant. Surgeons then remove the diseased liver, and the donated liver part is implanted in your body.
Reasons for a Liver Transplant
You cannot live without a functioning liver. If your liver fails to function properly, you may require a transplant. If you have end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant becomes necessary(chronic liver failure). This is a potentially fatal liver disease, which can be caused by a number of different liver conditions.
Cirrhosis is a common cause of liver failure. When scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, this is what happens. This prevents the liver from functioning properly. Other conditions that need a transplant are:
- Hepatitis B and C
- Alcoholic liver disease.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is when fat accumulates in the liver, causing inflammation or damage to liver cells.
- Hemochromatosis, that is cause due to too much iron formation in the liver.
- Wilson’s disease, which is cause due to too much copper accumulation in the liver.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis, biliary atresia, and primary sclerosing cholangitis are all conditions that affect the bile ducts (the tubes that carry bile away from the liver).
Restrictions of Liver Transplant
You need to take medications for the rest of your life to prevent your body from rejecting the donated liver. These anti-rejection medications can have a number of negative side effects, including:
- Thinning of the bones
- Diabetes
- Headaches
- Blood pressure is too high.
- Diarrhea
- High levels of cholesterol
- Anti-rejection drugs increase your risk of infection because they suppress the immune system. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help you fight infections.
When seeking a liver transplant in Turkey or India, you should look for the best hospitals. Although there are many hospitals, it is vital to research thoroughly.
Lyfboat is the world’s most trustworthy medical advisory and discount platform that gives you all information regarding treatment. Whether you want to search for the best hospital, surgeons, or the cost of a liver transplant, Lyfboat is an ultimate online destination.