Liver Transplant the New Lease of Life

Patients with chronic liver disease and acute liver failure require liver transplantation as a life-saving measure. With Advancement in the technical aspects of the whole treatment and surgery of liver transplant, the pre-operative and post-operative care of recipients and donors, coupled with the introduction of better immunosuppression protocols, have led to patient survivals ratio of over 90% in most high quantity centers. The emergency liver transplant poses several unique challenges which need precise medical practices.

The Centre for Liver and Biliary Surgery CLBS at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital New Delhi is one of the leading Center’s of the world for organ transplant and is dedicated to providing the best care to patients who are suffering from liver disease and those requiring a liver transplant. The Center has collaborated with highly skilled physicians to develop the best possible courses of treatment for patients with end-stage liver disease. Due to poor prognosis and acute liver failure, patient is asked for An Emergency liver transplant as final option. The decision to Emergency liver transplant depends upon the status of the patient and organ availability and multidisciplinary approach and frequent monitoring by experts team. It is a life-changing event for both recipient and donor.

It is a poignant time for patient as well as for his family which requires patience, hard work, understanding and commitment. Center’s team pledges to help you in every way possible before, during and after liver transplant surgery. They are whole heartedly committed to the time, effort, and resources which are required for making liver transplant completely successful. A dedicated and an experienced team of physicians, surgeons and support specialists provide patients with the physical, emotional and practical support all of which give you access to different levels of care.  

The Process of Emergency Liver Transplant

To be specific, there are three stages of any liver transplant case, which includes several procedures and exercises that a patient has to undergo. The below snippets explain those pre, during and post processes of emergency liver transplant –

Pre Surgery Stage :

This is the initial stage in which the patient and the physician do not know the condition of the liver. A stern liver disease can sprout with fever, especially the yellow fever or jaundice. In the early phase, the patient can experience brutal pain in the abdominal area, considering which, if it stays for more than a couple of days, the physician may refer the patient for further evaluation and treatment. If liver damage has been diagnosed, the patient will be sent for deep evaluation and emergency liver transplant surgery.

If the liver has been damaged due to an accident, then also the patient will be referred for further immediate treatment.

The pre surgery stage also includes evaluation of the donor’s health, specifically the liver. For the operation to succeed, the blood group of both, the patient and the donor, should match, and the donor’s organ should be in good condition.

Patients may have to wait for months to get the most suitable organ for transplant.

During Surgery Stage :

The condition of donor’s organ is again checked right before the transplantation surgery. The sugar level and blood press of the patient are also diagnosed before/during the surgery. It is a critical procedure, and the operation can take hours of time to complete.

Post Surgery Stage :

This is the recovery period. After the surgery, the patient may have to stay in the hospital for about a week or so, and then he is discharged to take rest at home. In this stage, the patient’s health condition is closely observed.

Emergency liver transplant- a life-saving treatment for acute liver failure

 When a liver is damaged to an extent that it fails to perform its normal functions then surgeons and doctors suggests for liver transplantation wherein the diseased liver is replaced with healthy ones. Though, liver failure can usually be managed by medication for a short while but transplantation is the only cure when it comes to long term treatment. As dialysis machine acts as a life-support treatment for kidney failure, there is no such mechanical device for liver that can replicate the functions of the liver.

 There are two main reasons that lead to liver failure; choric liver failure and acute liver failure. Chronic liver failure is one when the liver fails as a result of damage over many months or years. While in acute liver failure an extensive damage to the liver occurs over a short period of time. The main causes of chronic liver failure include alcoholic liver disease, Hepatitis C, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Hepatitis B, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Biliary Atresia, Autoimmune Hepatitis, Liver Cancer etc. 

However, acute liver failure is less common then chronic liver failure. But that is acute liver failure only which necessitates emergency liver transplant and is also largely associated with the high mortality rate. The most common indications for liver transplantation include hepatitis C virus (30%) and alcoholic liver disease (18%). However, other indications are Idiopathic/autoimmune liver disease (12%), Primary biliary cirrhosis (10%), Primary sclerosing cholangitis (8%), Acute liver failure (7%), Hepatitis B virus (6%), Metabolic liver disease (eg, inborn errors of metabolism) (3%), Cancer (3%), and Other (3%).