A Complete Guide To Liver Transplant

Every year India has over 1 Lakh people waiting for a liver transplant, with the incidences of liver diseases increasing by 30% over the last 20 years. The liver is the biggest solid organ in our body, and it performs critical functions like: 

• The liver makes proteins & albumin.

• The liver clears toxins from the blood (detoxification).

• The liver is responsible for regulating immunity and preventing various infections. 

• The liver produces bile that enables our bodies to absorb nutrients like fats, cholesterol, and vitamins.

• The liver helps in the regulation of hormones and medicines.

The liver operates and regulates critical functions that help us live. We can't live without a functioning liver. If you are suffering from any liver disease or are seeking the best liver transplant hospitals in Jaipur, call Manipal Hospitals to book a consultation with our experts today. 

A liver transplant helps people with liver cirrhosis, chronic liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer & acute liver failure. Liver failure can be a chronic problem or a sudden casualty resulting from infection, injury or disease such as a severe case of hepatitis. 

Causes of Chronic Liver Failure

• Chronic hepatitis B & hepatitis C.

• The body's immune system destroys the bile ducts.

• An inflammation results in scars within the liver.

• Blockage of the tube carrying bile from liver to gallbladder such as in cholangiocarcinoma.

• Excess alcohol builds scar tissues in the liver, causing its failure. 

• Liver cancer.

• Excess of copper deposition in the body as a result of Wilson's disease.

• Excess iron deposition in the liver as a result of hemochromatosis.

• Genetic disorders like Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

A Liver transplant surgery replaces a failed liver that no longer regulates its functions with a donation from a deceased or living person. A patient can also get a healthy liver from a dead person. They can also get treatment from a live person's portion of a healthy liver. Book an appointment to consult with the Best Liver transplant surgeon in Jaipur.

The doctors at Manipal Hospitals recommend a liver transplant only after undergoing other treatment procedures. Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, is fully equipped to handle a liver transplant. However, the patient needs to be in a health condition that allows doctors to operate. Cancer in parts other than the liver, alcohol or drug abuse, complications in the heart or other infections may rule out the chances of a liver transplant.

Types of Liver Transplant

1. Donation from a deceased person

A person who has died recently (brain death) with a healthy liver is eligible to donate his liver.

2. A liver donated from a living person

As the liver can regenerate itself, a portion of the liver helps the impacted person to live everyday life.

3. Split donation

Doctors split the liver received from a dead (brain-dead) person into two portions. Each portion can help a patient in need of a transplant. The part of the liver gradually regenerates itself.

Today most transplants happen with donations from a living person LDLT.

The experts at Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, help patients enrol on the national donor registry (waitlist) for liver transplants. However, if the patient has a donor available, the doctors help match the requirements to ensure the patient can accept the donor's liver. Doctors match parameters like blood type, body size, and several medical conditions before acknowledging the suitable donor.

The patients who enter the wait list for a donor get a priority score based on their condition. Patients with urgent requirements enter into a priority list to ensure donation reaches the patient who needs it the most. The coordinator from the hospital keeps the patients informed as there is a long queue for liver transplants in India. 

The expert liver transplant surgeons in Jaipur at Manipal Hospitals access the liver using an incision across the abdomen. The surgeons install the new liver after separating the existing liver and attaching the blood vessels and bile ducts to the new liver. The patient then reaches the intensive care unit under expert monitoring for several days.

The team of doctors monitors the condition and blood samples to ensure that the new liver starts to function as desired. The intravenous catheters manage blood sugar levels, electrolytes and blood volume. The patient moves to a recovery unit for a few days and is gradually brought back on liquids, regular bowels and food before getting discharged. Patients need to choose an expert facility and doctor for their liver transplant as it's a complicated procedure. 

Post Liver Transplant Complications 

• Immune System Rejecting Liver

Our immune system identifies and destroys anything unwanted that enters our body. It might treat the new liver as an undesirable element and launch an attack on it. The first 90 days are critical as more than 64% of patients need medicines to overcome the rejection from the immune system. The same drugs that help overcome the rejection might cause infections that may last for some time and need medical supervision.

• Infections

Various bacterial & viral infections can occur in post-transplant patients because of poor immunity due to immunosuppressants, therefore early diagnosis & treatment of infections is necessary. Visit today to have more clarity on the risks of infections associated with Liver transplantation in Jaipur.

• The pre-existing illnesses 

Any pre-existing illnesses may again cause liver failure. Some of these illnesses are Hepatitis C, fatty liver and inflamed bile ducts.

Post Transplant Immunosuppressant Recurrences Increases Cancer Chances

Patients undergoing liver transplants are 25% more likely to get skin cancer than others. Cancer can happen from drugs that suppress the immune response and other disorders like post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (P.T.L.D.).

Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, a multispeciality hospital, has an expert team to monitor patients during liver transplant surgery.

The team includes:

• A liver specialist.

• A liver transplant surgeon.

• A dedicated nurse is the primary contact point for the patient and transplant team.

• A psychiatrist helps patients overcome stress and anxiety.

• An expert in delivering anaesthesia.

• Experts from cardiac and other departments.

• Insurance coordinator.

• A coordinator from the Blood Bank.

Some Commonly Asked Questions

1. Who can donate a liver?

A deceased person or a portion of the liver from a living person is acceptable as a donation. The live person may or may not be related to the patient. 

2. Is a partial liver transplant acceptable?

Yes, as the liver is an organ that can regenerate itself, a portion of the liver is acceptable for transplant.

3. What are the diet restrictions after a liver transplant?

The treatment team consists of a nutritionist who customises your diet as per the condition. As a practice, the diet remains low on salt and sugar with minimal consumption of cholesterol and fat-rich foods. 

Amongst the restricted items, a patient is not allowed to consume alcohol or grapefruit to avoid damage to the new liver.

4. How to choose the right hospital for a liver transplant? 

Opt for a multispeciality hospital that can handle complications arising from such a complex treatment process. Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, is the best hospital for liver transplant surgery in Jaipur. 

5. Can I exercise after a liver transplant?

The doctors at Manipal Hospitals recommend adding exercises to everyday life after the liver transplant. Some acceptable exercise forms are walking, swimming and low-intensity strength training. Doctors provide a specific exercise plan to every patient based on their condition.

6. I want to donate my liver to a family member. What restrictions should I follow?

You need to be in good overall health with a BMI of under 30 at the time of donation. The donor should not suffer from any major illnesses and should be less than 60 and more than 18 years of age. 

Manipal Hospitals Jaipur is one of India's most advanced facilities for Gastroenterology that offers liver transplant surgery. Patients from all over India and globally arrive here to avail the expertise of India's leading doctors and world-class facilities. Contact us to learn more about liver transplants. 

Meet The Experts At Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur

Dr. Shailendra Lalwani

Dr. Shailendra Lalwani has over 21 years of experience and is the Head of the Department and Consultant at the Manipal Hospitals.

Dr. Shankar Lal Jat

Dr. Shankar Lal Jat is a consultant in gastroenterology at Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur. With an experience of 14 years, he is one of India's leading names in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. He has done DM - Gastroenterology from SGPGI & has expertise in ERCP, Endoscopic ultrasound CEVS, manometry, and diagnostic & therapeutic endoscopy. 

Dr. Monika Gupta

Dr. Monika Gupta is a Consultant - In gastrointestinal Surgery at Manipal Hospitals, Jaipur, with more than 14 years of experience.

Dr. Rohit Surekha

Dr. Rohit Surekha is a Consultant in gastroenterology with experience of more than 17. He is India's leading expert in the field of ERCP, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Endoscopy and Colonoscopy.

Share this article on: