A liver transplant is a major surgical procedure in which a diseased or severely damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a suitable donor. It may be considered when the liver can no longer perform its functions properly, and other treatments are no longer enough.
Liver transplantation can be required for patients with
advanced cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, certain liver cancers, and some
forms of acute liver failure.
A liver transplant may be considered when a patient develops
severe liver damage or complications such as:
●
Advanced cirrhosis
●
End-stage liver
disease
●
Acute liver failure
●
Certain liver tumours
or cancers
●
Repeated fluid
accumulation in the abdomen
●
Severe jaundice
●
Recurrent bleeding
from enlarged veins in the digestive tract
●
Liver-related
confusion
●
Severe complications that cannot be controlled
with medicines
The decision to proceed with transplantation depends on the
cause and severity of liver disease, the patient's overall health, and
transplant assessment.
Liver transplantation may involve:
●
Living donor liver transplantation: A suitable
living donor provides a portion of their liver.
●
Deceased donor liver transplantation: A suitable
liver becomes available from a deceased donor.
The liver can regenerate, which allows a portion of the
liver to be used for transplantation in carefully selected living donors.
Before transplantation, the patient undergoes a detailed
assessment. This may include blood tests, imaging scans, heart and lung
evaluation, nutritional assessment, and other investigations.
The transplant team also evaluates whether the patient is
medically suitable for the procedure.
Recovery varies from person to person. Patients need regular
follow-up after transplantation and must take prescribed medicines to reduce
the risk of rejection.
Regular blood tests and medical reviews help monitor liver
function and detect complications early.
Patients with advanced liver disease, recurrent
complications of cirrhosis, acute liver failure, or selected liver cancers
should discuss whether transplant evaluation is appropriate with a liver
transplant team.
Early referral can be important because transplant
assessment and preparation may take time.
