Liver Transplant: Causes, Symptoms, Surgery, Cost, Procedure, Risk & Recovery
Liver transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or a damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver. A liver transplant surgery therefore replaces a failed liver in a person, with a portion of healthy liver from a deceased person or a living donor.
Today we at MyMedTrip.com shall brief you on the liver, conditions that warrant a liver transplant in India, liver transplant cost in India, and liver transplant success rates in India. We will also give you detailed information on the liver transplant procedure and its requirements.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Liver transplant cost in India | 29000 USD- 36000 USD |
| Discount | 10% on the above quoted price (final hospital’s bill) ONLY APPLICABLE ONLY FOR MyMedTrip.com patients Click here for exceptions and terms. |
| Number of days at hospital (Estimated) | 14-21 days |
| Number of days in India outside hospital (Estimated) | 2 months |
| Treatment’s Success Rate | Over 90% |
| Tests required to help assess the treatment | Preoperative blood tests, ECG, Organ function test, and Ultrasound imaging. |
What is covered in the above mentioned cost for surgery?
This price includes surgery cost, doctor’s fee, standard prescribed tests and all standard expenses required at the hospital.
The liver is the largest organ in our body. It performs some essential functions such as processing food, producing bile, detoxifying the blood, and protecting the body from external threats. Thus when the liver begins to fail, these functions are severely affected.
Before understanding liver failure, let us first try to understand the anatomy of the liver and its functions.
About the liver
The liver is situated in the right-hand side of our abdomen. It lies above the stomach, the kidney, and the abdomen. Assuming the shape of a cone, the liver weighs around a few pounds and is brownish in colour.
The liver comprises two lobes, further divided into eight parts that have over one thousand small lobes. These small lobes are further joined to smaller tubes which are connected to larger tubes. Together these form the hepatic duct responsible for bile production.
Functions of the liver
The liver is the largest organ in our body that performs some vital tasks.
The liver is responsible for the detoxification of metabolites, the synthesization of proteins, and the production of biochemical substances for digestion.
This organ is also responsible for maintaining our glycogen level, for producing hormones, and decomposing red blood cells.
The various types of liver failure
When the multi-tasking liver begins to fail, the doctor recommends a liver transplant. The failure of the liver occurs due to various conditions of the liver. Some of them are:-
1. Genetic liver disease
Genetic liver disease occurs when the genetic component of a parent with a diseased liver, is carried on to the child. This does not mean that the child will ultimately have liver failure later in life. It rather implies that the child becomes more prone to this condition.
2. Fulminant Viral Hepatitis
Fulminant Viral hepatitis occurs due to various hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis E. For instance, almost 50% of hepatitis D viruses are responsible for leading to Fulminant Viral hepatitis. Hepatitis A virus on the other hand is quite rare but nevertheless may lead to Fulminant Viral hepatitis.
3. Liver cancer
The causes of liver cancer are unknown. However, there are two kinds of liver cancer, primary and secondary. Primary liver cancer is when the liver, in itself, begins to become cancerous owing to tumours or cancerous cysts. Secondary liver cancer is when the cancer from other parts of the body spreads to the liver.
4. Last-stage Cirrhosis
Last-stage cirrhosis occurs when damage done to the liver, due to any of the aforementioned reasons, begins to kill the liver tissue. The scar tissue (killed tissue) usually begins to take the place of healthy liver tissue over time. This continues till the liver shrinks in size and fails to function.
Last-stage cirrhosis is the end-stage condition of the liver. When this has begun, the surgeon recommends the patient for a liver transplant. Following this recommendation, there are a few stages that must be undergone to qualify for a liver transplant.
Searching for a donor for liver transplant
After the patient is suggested for a liver transplant, the search for a suitable donor begins. It is only after matching the donor with the recipient that liver transplant surgery can take place. The donor could either be living or deceased.
Living Donors are usually donors from one’s friends and family circle. In the case of living donors, a part of the liver is cut from the family/friend and implanted in the patient. The donated liver usually grows to its full size in a few weeks.
Deceased Donor, as the name suggests, is the liver from a diseased person who had opted/been put up for organ donation. In this case, the doctor makes use of the entire liver obtained from the expired person.
Qualifying the patient for liver transplant
Alongside matching with the donor, the patient’s degree of liver failure is assessed. There are four levels into which they are categorised. They are:-
1. Acute severe condition
Patients who have been admitted in the Intensive Care Unit due to liver failure and have a life expectancy of seven days, are categorised in ‘acute severe condition’. In addition to this, people who have already undergone a liver transplant surgery but their new liver severely has failed, are also categorised in this group. These patients are the first in line to receive a liver transplant.
2. MELD scoring model
MELD stands for Model for End-stage Liver Disease which is a scoring model through which the medical health professionals determine the probability of death among diseased-liver patients. This model is only for people who are eighteen years older. When medical health professionals find that patients have not longer than three months to live with a diseased liver, they are categorised into this MELD scoring model group.
3. PELD scoring
PELD stands for pediatric end-stage liver disease.
This is a scoring model that looks at the probability of death among diseased-liver patients who are younger than eighteen years. Their need for a liver transplant is calculated on the basis of their liver growth and certain laboratory tests such as the Blood-Clotting time.
Patients under the PELD and MELD scoring model fall next in line, for the transplant.
Patients with underlying health conditions
Under this category fall the patients who do not qualify for liver transplants. These are patients with some underlying complicated health conditions such as patients with AIDS, heart condition, lung condition, drug addiction, mental illnesses, or metastatic/secondary cancer.
Before the liver transplant
When the patient is recommended for a liver transplant and undergoes several tests required in order to assess the degree of liver failure, they are required to eat healthy and follow a healthy lifestyle. This implies that they need to take their medications regularly, follow a specific diet, do the suggested exercises, and thoroughly follow up with the doctor’s appointments.
During this time, the patient must stay in touch with the transplant team. This will keep the transplant team and the patient updated about any changes in the patient’s health.
When a liver becomes available, the patient is notified immediately. Following this, the patient has to arrive at the hospital at the given time. In the next step, the patient is sent to the testing center for tests required to be done before the surgery.
These tests will be:-
- Preoperative blood tests
- ECG
- Ultrasound
- Organ function test
Liver transplant procedure
Liver transplant surgery is a long surgery which takes five-six hours. The surgery convenes under general anesthesia.
In the next step, the surgeon progresses to make an incision in the abdomen. This gives the surgeon more access to the liver. The surgeon then carefully dissects the diseased liver and removes it.
In the next step, the surgeon prepares the place for the new liver. The surgeon then carefully places the new liver, connecting its blood vessels and bile ducts to the patient.
The surgery is completed after placing the liver. The surgeon progresses to close the incision with stitches and staples. The patient is then moved to the ICU where they will be constantly monitored
Recovery after liver transplant
The patient is kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a few days. Here, their vital organ-function such as heart rate and blood pressure, are monitored. Along with this, the functioning of the new liver will also be monitored.
After a few days have been spent in the ICU, the patient is moved to the recovery room and will be kept there for five-ten days. During this time. The patient will receive a specific diet. The monitoring of vital organs and new liver will continue.
The patient will be discharged if no complications arise. During their recovery at home, it is important that they attend all the follow-up appointments. It is also important for them to do the suggested tests regularly.
The patient will have to take a few medications such as immunosuppressants for the rest of their life. This will help the patient’s body to suppress any attack that the immune system may direct at the new liver.
Liver transplant surgery risks
As this is a long and complicated surgery, it is important that the patient discusses the associated risks of the surgery before goin in for the surgery. This will help the patient to be better prepared if there arises any complications. Some of the complications could be:-
- Bleeding
- Infection
- New liver failure
- Blood clots
- Complications with bile duct
Life after liver transplant
The first five years are very crucial for patients who have undergone a liver transplant. If they manage to survive during this time, the cervical chances for later times get higher.
It is very important to keep a healthy and balanced diet while recovering from a liver transplant. The transplantation team will have a dietician who would recommend what to eat and what to avoid. Avoid alcohol, food rich in salt, cholesterol, fats, and sugar.
Along with these suggestions, it is important to eat plenty of fruits and do regular exercises.
How can MyMedTrip.com help?
If you have decided to travel to India for Liver transplant in India, you may contact us on our Whatsapp number +91 9818237391 or email us at hi@mymedtrip.com The first consultation arranged by us is free of cost! We also provide visa invitation letters and help in facilitating the medical journey to India.
Throughout the journey, you shall be provided with one of our staff members for proper guidance through linguistic barriers, even though most of the hospitals and doctors we feature are well versed with Arabic, Russian,Bengali, and English.
If you have any further queries or questions related to Liver transplant surgery services in India, please do not hesitate to email us at the aforementioned address.
Frequently Asked Questions about Liver Transplant
What is liver transplant?
Liver transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased or a damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver.
What is the function of the liver?
The liver is responsible for the detoxification of metabolites, the synthesization of proteins, and the production of biochemical substances for digestion.
Who qualifies for a liver transplant first?
People who have been categorised under acute severe conditions with only seven days of life expectancy, qualify first for a liver transplant.
Who is second in line for liver transplant?
People who have been categorised under the MELD and PELD model with only three months of life expectancy, qualify second for a liver transplant.
Who does not qualify for a liver transplant?
People with some underlying diseases such as HIV aids, heart condition, lung condition, would not qualify for a liver transplant.
What are the two types of donors?
The two types of donors are living donors and deceased donors.
What are the tests that are required to be done before a liver transplant?
The tests that are required to be done before a liver transplant are ultrasound, ECG, preoperative blood tests, and organ function tests.
What under anesthesia does liver transplant surgery progress?
General anesthesia.
How long does surgery for liver transplant take?
Five-six hours.
When will I be discharged from the hospital after a liver transplant surgery?
You can expect to be discharged in seven-ten days.
What are the risks of liver transplant surgery?
The risks associated with liver transplant surgery are infection, blood clots, bleeding, new liver failure, and bile duct complications.
