Know More About Liver Transplantation

Hello everyone. I am Dr Manoj Gupta. I am a consultant Liver transplant surgeon and a Gastroenterologist. Today I am here to discuss things about Liver Transplantation.

What is Liver Transplantation?

Liver transplantation is an operation in which a diseased liver is removed and replaced with the healthy liver from a donor.

Who needs a Liver Transplantation?

It is a life saving treatment for the patients with liver failure. A condition liver is not able to sustain according to body needs. A patient with either acute liver failure or chronic liver failure will get benefit from the transplant.

What is living donor Liver transplant?

If a living person donate the liver, it is called living donor liver transpant. A living donor can be a family member or a closed relative of the patient.

• A living donor should have complatible blood group.
• Donor must be from the family like 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree family relative.
• Donor should be between 18-50 years.
• Donor should not be over weight.
• Donor should have healthy physical and mental health.
• Donor liver should be large enough to provide adequate liver volume to the recepient and that too is accessed with multiple tests.

Is it safe for the living person to donate the part of a liver?

Yes, liver donation operation has a very small risk because liver is an only oragn which is being reserved. Even 25% of the liver can provide sufficient function to the donor. At the end of operation, only 30% of liver is left behind withb the donor. So, it is an only organ which regnerate. It is having capacity to regenerate back to its normal life. Normal size liver regenerate upto 90% within 2-3 months after operation.

What is success rate of Liver Transplant?

Success rate are usually more than 95% if a patient is in healthy state.

Life after Liver Transplant?

Recepient lives the normal productive life. He is capable of working and supporting family with the help of lifelong medication.

Life after Liver Donation?

Liver donor lives a normal life. Quality of life is not affected by Liver Donation. Few donors have returned to the army as well after donating their liver and ladies have given birth to children even after liver donation.

Thank you.