Liver Transplant

In this article, we will discuss the topics of Liver Transplant, Liver Failure Diseases, Who Can Be a Donor for Liver Transplantation?, Life After Liver Transplantation.

Liver Transplant

The liver, the largest organ in the body, is an organ with important responsibilities. The first of its important responsibilities is to properly process the nutrients, drugs and hormones taken into the body. It also produces bile and is among the functions of the liver. Bile helps to absorb fat-soluble vitamins as well as cholesterol and fats. One of the liver’s most important tasks is to create proteins that help blood to clot. It also removes bacteria and toxins from the blood, prevents infections and controls immune responses.

Liver Failure Diseases

Liver failure, which can develop rapidly and encompass a long process, is a type of disorder that can manifest itself within a few weeks. It is also called acute liver failure. Acute liver failure is a rare type of disease that usually occurs as a result of the side effects of certain drugs. Liver transplantation is indicated as the solution for acute liver failure. Nevertheless, liver transplantation is an application used for the treatment of chronic liver failure.

Unlike acute liver failure, chronic liver failure develops gradually over months or years. The causes of chronic liver failure are attributed to a wide variety of conditions. The most prominent and most common condition is cirrhosis, or scarring. When cirrhosis begins to occur, scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. This new condition impairs the proper functioning of the liver.

Cirrhosis leading to liver failure and thus requiring liver transplantation has widely known causes. The first substance that causes cirrhosis is hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Damage to the liver due to excessive consumption of alcohol causes liver disease.

Fats accumulating in the liver cause both inflammation and disorders that cause liver cell damage. Diseases such as Wilson’s disease and Hemochromatosis reveal cirrhosis. Diseases on the bile ducts also trigger cirrhosis. For example, biliary atresia is one of the most well-known causes of liver transplantation, especially in children.

Who Can Be a Donor for Liver Transplantation?

There are some conditions to be a liver donor. Therefore, not everyone can be a giver. First of all, the liver donor has to make the organ donation of his own free will. Also, they must be eighteen or older. Another requirement for the donor is that they must be related to the patient up to the fourth degree.

Also, the blood types of both the donor and the recipient must match. The donor who will donate the liver is required to be normal in terms of liver structure, body function and all other systems. In addition, the anatomy of the donor’s liver is compatible with that of the recipient.

Life After Liver Transplantation

The recipient with liver transplant is followed in the intensive care unit for a while. Afterwards, he is taken to the service where his treatment will continue for ten days. He is especially informed about the issues that he should pay attention to in his life after treatment. As with all other organ transplants, there is a risk of organ rejection for the recipient after liver transplant.

In order to prevent organ rejection, the patient has to use drugs that suppress the immune system throughout his life. Despite the drugs used, even signs of organ rejection can be observed from time to time. In addition, while organ transplantation is performed, large vessels are cut and sutured in the recipient patient. Therefore, the possibility of serious bleeding in transplant patients is high.

The risk of infection for patients with liver transplants can be dangerous. Due to immunosuppressive drugs, infection treatment cannot reach ideal dimensions. The quality of life and life expectancy after transplantation is directly proportional to the success of the transplantation at the right time. It is extremely important for the recipient to act in line with the recommendations of the physician after the transplant.