Liver transplant

Liver transplant

Liver transplant surgery involves the complete removal of the patient's diseased liver and replacing it with a new one from a donor. The donor liver can either be from a deceased individual, where the entire liver is transplanted, or more commonly from a living family member who donates a portion of their liver. Nowadays, the liver can be safely divided into two parts, allowing for a portion to be taken for transplantation while the remaining liver regenerates quickly to its original size, albeit in a different shape. This procedure is reserved for patients whose liver disease has progressed to a critical level, typically those who have exhausted other forms of treatment or who have developed liver cancer. While the wait for a cadaveric transplant can be unpredictable, a living donor liver transplant can be planned and performed when necessary.

The Max Centre for Liver Transplant and Biliary Sciences is a highly popular destination for liver transplantation in India. Many overseas patients choose to receive treatment here, as the outcomes have been remarkably successful. The centre boasts an experienced team of 200 members, with over 20 years of expertise in liver transplantation. To date, they have completed over 2600 transplants and are now based at Max Super Specialty Hospital in Saket and Vaishali. The team ensures that patients receive intense care during and after surgery. The success rate for liver transplant surgery at Max Centre is currently over 95%, with a ten-year survival rate of over 80%.

Liver failure can occur suddenly in a matter of weeks (acute liver failure) or slowly over several months or years (chronic liver failure). There are various causes of liver failure, such as chronic viral infection with hepatitis B and C virus, liver tumor, alcoholism, fatty liver, and bile duct abnormalities like primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and biliary duct atresia. Fortunately, there are effective vaccines and drugs to treat hepatitis B and C. Primary liver cancer can develop in chronically diseased livers and, if detected early enough, can be cured through a liver transplant.

Patients who are potential recipients of a liver transplant often wonder about life after the procedure. In summary, life after the transplant is generally the same as before, but with minor restrictions such as eating hygienically prepared food, living in clean surroundings, undergoing regular tests as advised by the doctor, and complying with immunosuppressive medications.