Liver transplantation is the only treatment for chronic liver failure. It means replacing a sick liver with a healthy liver. Cirrhosis is the most common liver transplant disease group in the world. This is followed by some congenital diseases and some liver tumors. The most important thing for patients who need a liver transplant is where they will get it done. With the technological development in Turkey in recent years, medical techniques have significantly improved. With its full-fledged hospitals, it responds to the needs of all patients in both public and private areas. You can entrust yourself with peace of mind to specialist doctors in hospitals with hygienic environments in Turkey. Now let’s move on to other curious points about liver transplantation.

How to Find a Healthy Liver for Transplant?

Organs are needed for organ transplantation, and the source of organs is people. The appropriate organ for transplantation can be obtained from deceased people or living donors from the patient’s relatives. If the relatives of people who have died in intensive care (brain death) decide to donate organs, the lives of many patients are saved with those organs.

Liver transplantation with organs donated in this way is called “cadaveric liver transplantation.” Since the number of organ donations is not sufficient, most of the patients die while waiting for a new liver. As a solution, it is possible to save the patient’s life by taking a part of his liver from another living being (a relative of the patient) (living liver transplantation). For this purpose, a relative of the patient’s blood type volunteers for such an operation. The person who is a donor candidate undergoes intensive examinations and evaluations. If there is no obstacle to liver giving, The liver part (right or left) suitable for the patient’s weight is taken from the donor and replaced with the patient’s liver.

Essential Criteria for Liver Transplantation

For liver transplantation, first of all, the patient and Donornin blood groups must be suitable. Afterward, the examinations of the donor candidate begin. This process; includes social, psychological, and medical evaluations. Many factors, such as the amount of liver needed by the patient, the general health of the donor candidate, whether the liver can be divided appropriately, and the structure of the biliary tract, play a role in the realization of the surgery between the patient and the donor candidate.

What awaits the Patient After Liver Transplantation?

The body perceives the liver as a foreign substance in transplantations made from both living and cadaveric transplants. Therefore, our immune system will try to reject this stuck liver. For this reason, we will need to use drugs that suppress our immune system for life. During regular check-ups, their doctors adjust the doses of medicines to be taken by these patients. Unless otherwise stated, no medication should be discontinued, and its amount should be used without changing. However, these drugs that suppress the immune system can make the person a little more susceptible to infections. Even mild complaints such as the flu or new-onset diarrhea will therefore need to consult with your doctor.

What Will Your Life Be Like After The Transplant?

The primary purpose of a liver transplant is to return the person to an everyday, active, productive life. Organ transplant patients describe themselves as reborn and think they have started a new life. Many celebrate the day of surgery as ‘Transplant Birthday.’ It is imperative to understand that recovery is a process that takes weeks. With the end of the first sensitive period, which lasts about three months, almost all liver transplant patients return to their pre-disease life (work or school). Pregnancy and childbirth are possible after liver transplantation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Liver Transplantation

At what stage is a liver transplant needed?

Some inherited anomalies, excessive alcohol and drug use, and viruses that cause cancer or hepatitis can initiate irreversible damage to the liver. In this case, the liver hardens and shrinks, large and small swellings occur on it, and cirrhosis develops. Cirrhosis of the liver; It is a condition that can lead to fatal results such as bleeding, jaundice, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites), infection, and collection of toxic wastes in the body and coma. Ultimately, the solution may be a liver transplant.

What is the age limit for living liver donors?

It is necessary to be older than 18 years old and less than 55 years old; concomitant health problems prevent being a donor.

What is the risk of surgery for the donor?

The accepted risk in the world is around 1%.

When did do donors return to their normal lives?

Cases with a problem-free course are discharged around ten days and return to their active lives in 1 month. They cannot do sports for three months.

Does the transplanted liver regenerate itself?

The transplanted liver reaches the required size in 6-8 weeks, as in the donor. In normal humans, the liver is about 2% of body weight. For example, a 75 kg person weighs 1500 g. becomes the liver.

If the donee has hepatitis b and hepatitis c, will ıt recur in the new liver?

With hepatitis B immunoglobulin, 95% do not relapse, but hepatitis C relapses. However, the problem occurs again in the liver after a very long time.

What should donee be protected from?

In general, they should avoid very crowded environments and air pollution. They should stay away from smoking environments and those who have a flu infection. Shaking hands and kissing on the cheek are not recommended.

What is the success rate of liver transplants?

Timely liver transplants have a success rate of over 80%.