A liver transplant surgery involves surgically substituting a problematic liver with a healthy liver from a different person. Usually, the healthy liver is taken from a person who has recently passed away. In some cases, a living person may also give away part of the liver. Usually, living donors are members of the family or someone who has a good blood type match. The liver regenerates lost tissues after a surgery; hence, the donor s liver becomes normal within a few weeks of surgery.

You may require a liver transplant if your liver does not function optimally, owing to the below mentioned conditions:

    Cirrhosis: This is a chronic disease of the liver wherein, scar tissues replace healthy tissues in the liver, thus, not allowing the liver to function optimally.
    Metabolic disease: Disorders that modify the activity of the chemicals in the body
    Acute hepatic necrosis: This is a disorder that causes the healthy tissues in the liver to die
    Autoimmune disorders or liver cancer: Autoimmune disorders can cause healthy tissues in the liver to die as the immune system in the body starts attacking healthy tissues. Formation of malignant tumors in the liver can impair liver functioning.

Procedure
You have to undergo certain procedures before the surgery is conducted; a general health exam, imaging tests, blood tests and a psychological exam are conducted before the surgery. Based on the functioning of the liver and some other factors, your suitability for the transplant will be determined.
The procedure begins with general anesthesia, following which an incision is made in the abdomen. The liver is then removed and replaced with a healthy one. Once the procedure is completed, the surgeon closes the incision with stitches.

Aftercare
Once the procedure is done with, you are kept in the intensive care unit for a few days. The doctor will monitor your progress and put you on medications. After the recovery, you will have to undergo check-ups at regular intervals. You may also have to take medications such as immunosuppressant to prevent your immune system from attacking the liver.

Liver Transplant Surgery - How Best To Care for it Post Surgery?

Just like the name suggests, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a set of diseases that can affect the liver due to excess accumulation of fat. One common disease that arises from this condition is known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. This can lead to cirrhosis as well. NAFLD is very common in the Western Countries affecting close to 100 million people annually. Although it can occur in any age group, the most affected age group being the one between 40-50 million. With this condition, the risk of getting other diseases such as cardiovascular problems and type 2 diabetes increases considerably.

Symptoms: Non-alcoholic fatty liver shows symptoms such as fatigue, enlarged liver, and pain, discomfort in the upper abdomen. Some other symptoms that have been witnessed in patients suffering from NAFLD include the development of breasts in men, swelling of the abdomen, red palms, jaundice, swelling of the blood vessels etc.

Causes: Experts have not been able to identify the exact causes of NAFLD. However, it is pretty evident that this condition only arises when the liver fails to produce bile which is responsible for digesting the fat cells. The fat in turn deposits in the liver cells resulting in NAFLD. Some of the possible causes include the following:

The resistance of insulin
Type 2 diabetes
High level of triglyceride in the blood
Obesity
Risk Factors: There is a wide array of risk factors that can pose a threat of NAFLD. Some of them include metabolic syndrome, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, type 2 diabetes, hypopituitarism, obesity, polycystic ovary syndrome etc.

Complications: The major complications of NAFLD is liver cirrhosis. This is a condition that results in scarring of the liver cells resulting in fibrosis. Some other complications include fluid accumulation in the liver, liver cancer, swelling of the vein etc.

Diet: A mediterranean diet is a perfect diet suited for patients suffering from NAFLD. It includes nuts, fish, vegetables, grains, fruits and olive oil. Fat should be eliminated from the diet by a significant bit. It is important to add the right kind of fat in the diet. Omega-3 fatty acid available in flaxseed oil, leafy vegetables, and nuts fits the bill. Studies have shown that vitamin D and E helps a great deal in fighting liver diseases. Some other food items that should be included in the diet are green-tea, red grapes, Brazil nuts, raw garlic, wolfberry etc.

Treatment: Once the disease is diagnosed, a doctor s first endeavour is to ensure that the patient loses weight through a combination of diet and exercise. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B is the next step that a doctor would ideally suggest. For patients who are suffering from cirrhosis, a liver transplant is the only viable option to increase mortality.

What Are The Reasons Behind Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption over a prolonged time can severely affect the liver, giving rise to Alcohol-Induced Liver Disease. The liver plays a significant role in digestion as well as filtering the toxins out of the body. Normally, the liver is capable of regenerating its damaged cells and tissues. However, unlimited alcohol consumption interferes with the functioning of the liver. With time, the ability of the liver to regenerate itself also gets affected (reduces) due to excessive drinking resulting in liver problems and disorders.

The stages of alcohol induced liver disease
Alcohol induced liver disease progresses through three stages, alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis, and finally cirrhosis.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease: The fatty liver is an early stage of Alcohol induced liver disease, characterized by excess deposition of fats (~ between 5-10% of the total liver weight) in the liver cells and tissues. People with fatty liver should give up drinking for good (or at least till the condition is improved and reversed). Fatty liver seldom exhibits any characteristic symptoms.
Alcoholic hepatitis: Alcoholic hepatitis mostly affects people who are heavily into drinking. More than often, the condition triggers damage and destruction of the liver. Further, there may be swelling and inflammation of the liver. A person with alcoholic hepatitis may experience
Abdominal pain
Fever
Nausea and vomiting
In some patients, the condition may trigger jaundice (excess build up of blood bilirubin resulting for improper functioning of the liver)
In extreme cases, alcoholic hepatitis may result in fatal consequences
Liver cirrhosis: This is the most severe form of alcohol induced liver disease that can give rise to serious and life threatening health complications. Cirrhosis is often an irreversible condition where there is maximum scarring of the liver cells and tissues. In addition to the symptoms associated with alcoholic hepatitis, a person with cirrhosis may also exhibit the following symptoms.
Esophageal varices: It is a condition characterized by bleeding of the esophageal veins
Ascites: In people with cirrhosis, there may be an excessive fluid accumulation in the stomach.
Portal hypertension: It is a condition when the blood pressure in the liver shoots up.
Cirrhosis may also affect the spleen, resulting in its enlargement. There may be mood swings and behavioral problems. A person with cirrhosis should waste no time and immediately consult a specialist to avoid further aggravation.

Factors contributing to alcohol induced liver disease
The following factors in combination with alcohol can wreak havoc, worsening the condition further:

Malnutrition: In some people, excessive drinking can result in malnutrition (alcohol often results in malabsorption of the essential nutrients). Malnutrition, in turn, can adversely affect the liver.
Obesity: Obesity, one of the common consequences of alcohol consumption, can spell doom for the liver and its normal functioning.
Alcohol: It acts as a poison for people suffering from Acute Hepatitis C (viral hepatitis), further damaging the liver. Some research suggests that women who are into heavy drinking are more likely to suffer from liver problems than their male counterparts.
Genetics: It may be responsible for the inability of the body to processes alcohol effectively, resulting in liver problems.

Alcohol Induced Liver Disease - Understanding It In Detail!

A number of health problems today are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. One such condition is a fatty liver or collection of fat in the liver. The buildup of fats in the liver is known as Fatty Liver. The liver processes everything that you eat or drink and filters harmful substances from the blood. If too much fat has accumulated in the liver, this process gets interfered with. These fat cells cause inflammation of the liver tissues which in time can lead to scarring and liver fibrosis. On its own, a fatty liver is relatively harmless but when it reaches this stage, it can be life threatening.

The reasons for Fatty Liver can be alcoholism, incorrect diet, obesity, diabetes, or even excess use of medication.

If ignored or left untreated, many liver diseases will lead to permanent and irreversible damage to the liver and can be a significant threat to your health. But, there is no standard form of treatment for a fatty liver. If diagnosed in its early stages, treating the underlying cause can stop the progression of the disease and even resolve it. Homeopathy addresses the underlying causes of a disease and hence is an ideal form of treatment for a fatty liver. It can reduce the symptoms of this disease, improve liver functioning and even reverse the condition if treatment is started early.

The Homeopathic medicines, which are made of natural substances, are given to patients after studying the unique symptoms experienced by each individual. Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach. Homoeopathy is very proficient in managing all the symptoms of Fatty liver disease and furthermore plays a vital role in preventing relapse of the condition.

Some of the most common homeopathic medicines for fatty liver are

    Chelidonium: This is often used to treat a fatty liver accompanied by right upper abdominal pain. In such cases, the liver may be enlarged and the patient also usually suffers from constipation or experience nausea and vomiting. The patient will also probably suffer from excessive weakness and have a desire for hot food and drinks.

    Lycopodium: A fatty liver accompanied by acidity can be treated with this type of homeopathic medication. In such cases, the patient will also complain of bloating and belching with a burning sensation. These symptoms tend to worsen n the evening and the patient may have an intense craving for sweets and hot drinks.

    Phosphorus: This is used to treat cases of fatty acid which triggers regurgitation accompanied by sour belching. In some cases, the patient may also experience pain in the liver and excessive flatulence. Vomiting may also occur along with weakness while passing stool.

    Calcarea carb: Obese patients suffering from this condition can be treated with calcarea carb. These people often have a distended abdomen, are lactose intolerant and suffer from chronic constipation. They are also overly sensitive to cold air and sweat excessively from the head.

    Nux Vomica: homeopathic remedy for fatty liver with pain in abdomen after eating.

Nux vomica is great for any abdominal problem including fatty liver caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. These patients often suffer from abdominal pain a few hours after eating with sour or bitter tasting belches. They may constantly feel the urge to pass stool but are unable to do so.

Though homeopathic remedies have negligible side effects when taken in low dosages, they should never be self-prescribed. If you suffer from a fatty liver, consult a homeopathic doctor immediately who can diagnose it properly and treat you accordingly.

5 Homeopathic Remedies for Fatty Liver

Liver transplant in the only curative option available for patient who develop cirrhosis of liver due to any cause ( Chronic Hepatitis B , Chronic Hepatitis C, Alcoholic Cirrhosis, NASH etc). Once patient has been diagnosed with cirrhosis it can not be reversed with any non-surgical treatment . Over a period of time patient may develop worsening in liver function resulting in complications of cirrhosis (bloody vomitus, black stools, jaundice , altered sensorium, renal dysfunction, abdominal swelling etc) labeled as  decompensated cirrhosis . These patients require Liver transplant at the earliest and should be reffered to a liver transplant centre immediately. Ideally all patient diagnosed with cirrhosis should be under the follow-up of a gastroenterologist/Hepatologist. The source of graft liver can be from two sources namely from a deceased brain-dead donor or a Living-related donor and termed respectively as DDLT ( Deceased donor liver transplant) and LDLT ( Living Donor Liver Transplant) . However both DDLT and LDLT have nearly 90% success rate and both the procedures have their own benefits and lacunaes. Also the decision to go for DDLT and LDLT may vary for any particular patient. 

Before the Liver transplant 

All recipient and Living donor go thorough evaluation before the transplant process that includes blood investigations, Imaging studies, Cardiac and pulmonary fitness tests, multidisciplinary consultation before the clearance for liver transplant is achieved. The healthcare provider will explain the entire procedure. The healthcare provider is also supposed to answer all your questions. You would be needed to sign a consent form that allows the doctor to do the surgery. Eating food is not allowed at least 8 hours before the surgery. If you cannot stay relaxed before the surgery, a sedative will be given. 

After the Liver Tranplsant 
The recipient surgery lasts for anywhere between 12-16 hrs and donor surgery for 8-12 hrs. After the surgical procedure is complete, you will be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU)and will be closely watched for several days. 

Immediately After the Surgery 
You will most likely have a tube in your throat. This is so that you can breathe with the help of a machine (a ventilator) until you can breathe on your own. The ventilator tube will be removed on next morning when all parameters are found to be satisfactory. All parameters are monitored by round the clock critical care doctors and staff for a few days. The recipient has to stay in the hospital for three weeks and the donor is discharged in one week. 

Blood samples will be collected on a regular basis to check the functioning of the new liver. Antibiotics will be infused via IV channels to prevent you from infections. The area where the operation was done should always be kept clean after you have reached home. Any stitches or surgical sutures will be removed at a follow-up visit.

Complications that may arise 
Blocked blood vessels to the new liver, bleeding, an infection, leakage of bile or blocked bile ducts, or the new liver not working for a short time right after surgery are a few complications that may arise. Not to aggravate the condition, in the case of a complication, it is imperative to visit your doctor.

Liver Transplant - What To Expect Before & After The Procedure?

The liver is the largest internal organ in our body which performs multiple functions and it is the only gland that can regenerate quickly when it is healthy. The main role of the liver is to clean and filter blood coming via digestive tract previous to it flows to remaining body parts. Liver failure results in reduced ability of blood clotting, thereby causing severe problems in case of injuries. Apart from that, alcohol and viruses are also significant factors that stop the liver from functioning properly.

Liver Transplantation
Liver Transplantation enables even the people at the final stage of liver failure to lead longer and happier life. The success rate of Liver transplantation has increased drastically due to advanced surgical techniques. Liver transplant is the best option when the liver is damaged partially or entirely. It is a surgery that involves replacing a failed liver in a recipient with a healthy liver of a donor.

Who should go for it?
The main cause of liver failure in infants is Biliary Atresia. This occurs when bile ducts are absent or partially/fully blocked. Whereas in adults, liver disease is caused due to Cirrhosis - a condition in which liver is scarred and becomes dysfunctional in the worst case. Most common reasons for Cirrhosis are Hepatitis B and C, genetic disorders, alcohol consumption, toxic metals and obesity. One should immediately seek advice from a doctor when he/she suffers from following symptoms:

Fatigue
Nausea
Weakness
Weight loss
Jaundice
Fever
Abdominal Pain
Itchy Skin
Liver Transplantation Surgery
Two kinds of the liver transplant are available: 

Deceased donor transplant 
Living donor transplant
There are not enough deceased donor livers available to match all the liver transplant needs. Any living donor with a matching liver can donate a part of their organ to the person undergoing the liver transplant. As the liver can regenerate itself to its normal size in healthy people within a few months, there are no side effects of donating a part of the liver. A thorough physical and mental health examination will be performed for both the donor and the recipient to ensure that they can cope with the process and are aware of the risks involved. This includes psychological tests and blood tests. Patients are added to a waiting list as per their priority score. The score is assigned to a patient based on three blood samples creatinine, bilirubin and INR.

The priority score is termed as MELD (model of end-stage liver disease) in adults and PELD (pediatric end-stage liver disease) in children. The patient cannot undergo liver transplant if he/she has contracted cancer in any other part of the body or is suffering from heart disease or severe infections.

During the liver transplantation procedure, the surgeon removes some part of the liver from a donor and replaces damaged liver in the recipient with it. Both recipient's and donor's liver re-grow rapidly and reach normal size within months. As per statistics, recipients who receive the liver from living donor have a higher survival rate than those who receive it from deceased donors.

After surgery, both donor and recipient should maintain healthy and clutter-free life and follow strict diet rules and get vaccinated as per the chart provided by the doctor. They also need to avoid consumption of alcohol entirely and talk to a medical practitioner before taking any medications.

Liver Transplant Surgery - Who Should Go For It?

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