Liver Transplant  Frequently Asked Questions

Getting a liver transplant is the last chance a person with liver failure has at a new life; it’s a serious procedure and requires patients to be completely informed about what the procedure entails and thereafter. In this article, we’ve got some of the best liver specialists in Delhi to answer frequently asked questions regarding liver transplants, feel free to read on if you’re considering a liver transplant in Delhi, or anywhere for that matter. There are so many questions liver specialists and liver transplant surgeons in Delhi have to answer, yet they can’t answer all your questions. In case your question isn’t listed below, please feel free to call us and we’ll get back to you. 

Do I need a liver transplant?

Presently, a liver transplant is the only cure for liver failure; unfortunately, no device or machine can replace and perform all the functions of the liver; like a pacemaker for a heart. People who need a liver transplant the most are those who suffer from chronic acute liver failure, followed by those with acute liver failure. 

Acute liver failure occurs if a healthy liver suffers injury resulting in liver insufficiency, while in chronic liver failure there is repeated injury and repair to the liver over many years, caused by autoimmune diseases, viral hepatitis, obesity, alcohol abuse, liver cancer, metabolic conditions, genetic liver diseases, and another disease. This end stage of scarring is termed cirrhosis and it can’t be cured. Even the best liver specialists at the best hospital in Delhi will not be able to offer any cure as the liver is unable to repair itself. Medications may help with symptoms but a liver transplant is the only permanent remedy.

How long do I need to wait for a liver transplant?

There is a long waiting time for a donated liver as the demand is far greater than the supply. Because of the high-risk patients with end-stage liver disease face, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) has formulated a scoring system based on several factors, with the severity of the illness being the main concern, on top of matching blood type, and the number of others who are listed and waiting in your local area. You can visit the best hospital for liver transplants in Delhi but your procedure will go through only if your name comes up on the waiting list. 

How does the wait list work?

The UNOS developed the MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score to determine the severity of liver failure in those waiting on a liver transplant. The MELD is scored between 6 to 40 - with the most gravely ill having higher scores.

Your place on the waiting list is based on the availability of organs, blood type, and medical urgency as shown in the MELD score.

Is there any way to bypass the wait list? 

The only possible way of getting a liver transplant without being on the waiting list is to find a live donor: preferably a family member, who can donate their liver to you. Certain conditions like matching blood type need to be met before a live liver donation can occur. The best liver surgeons in Delhi will run both donor and recipient through a comprehensive range of tests to exact the match for optimal results. Live donors cannot charge any money, as per law, and must make sure they understand what it is to be a living donor before they make their decision. 

Can patients with liver cancer get a transplant?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), or primary liver cancer, is a major cause of liver transplants, and it needs to be detected early for a transplant to be possible. The assessment is similar to liver transplantation with additional evaluation of the extent of the tumor, and candidates with HCC are also placed on the liver transplant waiting list.

A huge advantage of a liver transplant for HCC is the complete removal of the cirrhotic liver that could be harboring more tumors or developing new ones in the future. This reduces the chance of cancer recurrence compared to patients who receive conventional resection as treatment for liver cancer.

Any risks in liver transplants?

There is risk in all major surgeries and this is the same, immediately after the operation, risks of bleeding, poor function of the grafted liver, bile leaks, and infections are possible. Our liver transplant hospital makes sure we continue to monitor our patients carefully for weeks after surgery to look out for rejection, which becomes less common with time.

What is the recovery time?

It depends on the patient's condition before surgery, but most patients will need to be in the hospital for 10 to 14 days after the transplant. Recuperation continues at home and people can return to work or school after about three months.

Also, Read : Alcoholic Liver disease- Can you recover from alcoholic liver disease?