Introduction of Liver transplant.
A liver transplant is a surgical procedure to remove a diseased liver and replace it with a healthy liver (whole or part) from a donor. Liver transplant operations use livers from deceased donors or from living donors. Liver transplant is a treatment option for people who have end-stage liver failure that can’t be controlled using other treatments.
Two specialized team of liver transplant surgeons work simultaneously in two equipped operation theatres. In case of living donor liver transplant, one team for donor operation for retrieval of part of donor liver and another team for removal of damaged (cirrhotic/cancer liver) and finally implantation of donated liver (allograft)to the recipient.
In case of deceased donor liver transplant the retrieval of liver may be done in other centre and the liver is transported as quickly as possible to the recipient surgery theater.
Liver transplant surgery carries a risk of complications, including bleeding, bile leaks, failure of donated liver, infection and rejections of donated liver.
Recipient must have to take a number of medications after the liver transplant, many for the rest of life. Drugs called immunosuppressant help keep the immune system from attacking new liver. Other drugs help reduce the risk of other complications after transplant.
Six months to a year of recovery period is needed for full recovery after a liver transplant. However, normal activities may be resumed after a few months of transplant.
Chances of a successful liver transplant and long-term survival depend on particular situation. In general, about 72 percent of people who undergo liver transplant live for at least five years. People who receive a liver from a living donor have five-year survival rate is about 78 percent.