When do you need a liver transplant?

A liver transplant is a medical procedure to replace a damaged liver with a healthy one. The surgery is performed by GI surgeons when your entire liver or only a portion of the liver is no longer functioning and need to be replaced. After the surgery, the transplanted liver returns to its normal and regular size. A medical evaluation is necessary to determine if a liver transplant is the appropriate course of treatment for a person's specific condition. The decision to undergo a liver transplant requires careful consideration and consultation with a medical team.

Who needs a liver transplant?

A liver transplant is the appropriate treatment option for patients with liver cancer or liver failure when other treatments are not proven to be effective. Some of the other reasons why the best gastro surgeon in Kolkata may consider transplanting your liver are as follows: 

• Cirrhosis: It is a condition where the liver becomes scarred and damaged, leading to liver failure.
• Chronic hepatitis B or C: Viral infections that cause inflammation of the liver, leading to liver damage over time.
• Alcoholic liver disease: Excessive alcohol consumption over a prolonged period can cause liver damage and cirrhosis.
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Here, excess fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and liver damage.

What is the procedure for a liver transplant?

A liver transplant is a complex surgical procedure that involves removing a diseased or damaged liver and replacing or transplanting it with a healthy liver from a donor by a gastroenterologist surgeon. Here is the procedure for a liver transplant.

Evaluation: Before a liver transplant, a patient is evaluated. The evaluation includes a thorough medical history, physical examination, blood tests, imaging studies and other tests.

Surgery: The transplant surgery typically takes between 6 and 12 hours, depending on the patient's condition and the complexity of the surgery. The gastro surgeon removes the diseased liver and replaces it with a healthy liver from the donor. The new liver is then connected to the patient's blood vessels and bile ducts.

Recovery: After the surgery, the patient will be given medications to manage pain and other symptoms.

Follow-up care: The patient is recommended to have regular checkups with the transplant team to monitor the new liver's function.

Conclusion

The decision to undergo a liver transplant should be made after consultation with a GI surgeon with expertise in liver disease and transplantation.