Liver Transplant with Cost

India, a Preferred Destination For Liver Transplant

India is a popular destination for liver transplantation as the outcomes have been phenomenally successful.

As we all know, liver transplantation is a costly treatment. However, when compared to other countries, the liver transplant cost in India is significantly lower – in fact, it is only a fraction of what it costs in other countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. This is the most compelling reason to consider liver transplantation in India.

Affordability does not imply a reduction in treatment quality. The liver transplant surgeons in India have the expertise and experience to carry out this treatment with a high liver transplant success rate.

The technologies used are cutting-edge, just like in any other developed country, which is why nearly half a million people came to India in 2020 to seek medical care.

Indian Government’s Protocol For Liver Transplantation

• To benefit from liver transplantation in India, the government imposes various criteria, stages, and regulations.
• The donor and the beneficiary must be related to each other (in case of a live donor transplant).
• The donor should be between the ages of 18 and 50 years old.
•  It is suggested that living donors be in sound mental health.
•  Donors who are physically fit and disease-free have better outcomes.
•  For approval to transplant, the recipient and donor should submit Form-11 to the Chairman, Authorization Committee, Jeevandan AP, along with the treatment certificate issued by the treating nephrologist and urologist, and the Liver Transplant Surgeon/Transplant Surgeon.
•  The Hospital Administrator / Medical Director/Medical Superintendent of the hospital where the transplantation is to be done shall forward the application along with all essential paperwork. The decision of the committee will be delivered to the hospital from which the application was received, rather than to the recipient directly.
• The family structure certificate should include information about the self, father, mother, spouse, son(s), brother(s), sister(s), and daughter(s), as well as their names, ages, and addresses.
• The permission issued is non-transferable and is only valid for the patient and donor, the hospital, and the clinicians (transplant surgeon and nephrologist) who applied to the committee.
•  A transplant with an Indian donor is not possible for a foreigner. They can bring a donor from their home country who has been properly certified/forwarded for transplantation in India by their embassy.
•  A certificate of non-objection is issued by the patient’s country of origin’s high commission in India, which is subsequently provided to the hospital.
•  Cases that have been submitted for approval to the transplant board.
• The patient must submit all required paperwork to the Transplant Committee for approval, and the Committee’s permission is required at the end.

Liver Transplant Surgery Procedure

A liver transplant procedure begins with the patient being checked for medical conditions like severe heart disease, cancer, ling or nerve disease, an active infection, consumption of alcohol, consumption or drugs, weight etc.

Sometimes genetic factors in children can result in acute liver failure and serious consequences that necessitate a transplant.

There are three types of liver transplant surgery: deceased/ cadaver organ donation, living donor liver transplant and split liver transplant, also known as a partial graft.

Pre-Operative Procedure

When donor is available

Choosing the right donor for a liver transplant surgery necessitates the experience, skill, and technical knowledge of the many doctors, transplant coordinators, and other health care professionals who comprise the Live Donor Team.

Potential live liver donors are thoroughly screened. During the evaluation, the donor’s health and safety are the most important concerns. Only healthy donors are considered.

Doctors may be able to manage the liver failure with lifestyle changes and medication before a transplant is required. When that fails, the doctor may refer a liver transplant.

The patient is scheduled to visit the transplant clinic after being referred. There, they meet with team members such as surgeons, hepatologists, and transplant coordinator.

This examination will determine whether or not the patient is a candidate for a transplant. Hereafter, a batch of tests will be conducted, to examine the condition of all the vital organs and figure out that a liver transplant is the best treatment and if any other health issues will not prevent the patient from receiving a successful transplant.

Doctors, nurses, dietitians, social workers, psychologists (if needed), and a financial coordinator comprise the transplant team. They will ask the patient for information and inform them about the liver transplant.

When donor needs to be chosen

The patient’s name will be added to a national transplant waiting list in case a donor is not available. The time it takes to find a donor liver can vary greatly from a few days to even months. While waiting for a new liver, the doctor will treat the complications of liver failure to keep the patient as comfortable as possible.

End-stage liver failure complications are serious, and the patient may need to be hospitalized frequently. When an organ becomes available due to the death of a donor, the patient or their family are notified. They must then go to the hospital right away to prepare for surgery.

The surgery will be scheduled ahead of time if a living person donates a portion of their liver. The donor and the patient will have surgery at the same time. The donor must be in good health and have the same blood type as the patient. A psychological examination will also be performed on the donor. This is done to make sure he or she is satisfied with the decision.

During The Liver Transplant Procedure

The duration of liver transplant surgery depends on how complex the case is. On average, the surgery can take between 6-12 hours.

If the transplantation is from a deceased-donor liver

If the patient is notified that a deceased donor’s liver is available, they will be asked to come to the hospital right away. The health care team will admit the patient to the hospital, and examine them to ensure that they are in good health for the surgery.

The patient will also be asked to sign a consent form that explains the potential dangers. The sign authorizes the medical team to perform the liver transplant. The testing procedure could last several hours.

During surgery, the operating room nurse will keep the family updated in the waiting room. If they require additional assistance, a volunteer is available.

As liver transplant surgery is performed under general anesthesia, the patient will be sedated throughout the procedure.

The surgeon will remove the diseased liver and replace it with a donor liver. Once the new liver is in place, you are then transferred to an intensive care unit to begin recovery.

If the transplantation is from a living-donor

If the patient is receiving a living donor liver transplant, the surgery will be scheduled ahead of time.

Surgeons begin by operating on the donor, removing the portion of the liver that will be transplanted. The diseased liver is then removed by surgeons, and the donated liver portion is implanted in the patient’s body.

The transplanted liver portion in the patient’s body, and the portion left behind in the donor’s body, regenerate quickly and return to normal volume in a matter of weeks.

Post-operative Care 

Following the liver transplant, the patient can expect to:

• Stay in the intensive care unit for a few days if necessary. Doctors and nurses will keep an eye on their condition for signs of complications. They will also test liver function on a regular basis to see if the new liver is functioning properly.
• Spend a week to ten days in the hospital. Once stable, the patient is transferred to a transplant recovery area to continue recovery.
• As they continue to recover at home, timely visits are to be made to the doctor. The transplant team creates a schedule for checkups. The patient may be subjected to blood tests several times per week at first, then less frequently over time.
• Following the liver transplant, the patient will be required to take a number of medications. Some medications are to be taken for the rest of your life. It includes immunosuppressants.
• Immunosuppressants are medications that prevent the immune system from attacking the new liver. Other medications help to reduce the risk of other complications following the transplant.

Tips & Advice

Once discharged, the patient must follow the instructions of a liver transplant specialist to ensure that the new liver is functioning properly and is not being damaged by rejection, infections, problems with blood vessels or bile ducts.

• • The patient will need to avoid people who have infections and report any signs of illness to your liver transplant specialist right away.
  • They might require home care assistance at home, such as while walking.
  • Coughing and deep breathing are critical to keep the lungs healthy and prevent pneumonia.
  • A proper diet prescribed by a dietician is required. If the patient feels fit and obtains permission from a physician, he or she may return to work after 3-6 months.

• Aside from eating a healthy diet and exercising, avoid excessive alcohol consumption.

After a liver transplant surgery, most people can resume their normal activities. Women should avoid conceiving during the first year following transplantation.

Regaining strength takes time, depending on the severity of the illness prior to the transplant. A liver transplant specialist will be able to inform how long the recovery period will be.

Most people resume their previous eating habits. A few medications have been linked to weight gain, diabetes, and an increase in cholesterol. As a result, meal planning and a low-fat, balanced diet will help them stay healthy. Patients who have had a liver transplant tend to gain weight because they retain water. It is recommended that they reduce or eliminate their salt intake to reduce or eliminate the problem.

How Can MyMedTrip.com Help?

It is natural to be overwhelmed and concerned while traveling to a new place for medical treatment. Throughout the journey, we shall assist the patient and their attendant, and provide a manager for help through the whole medical trip. We will also assist in overcoming linguistic barriers.

Should you decide on traveling to India for medical assistance, you may email us at hi@mymedtrip.com or Whatsapp at +91 9818 2373 91. The first consultation arranged by us would be free of cost! Additionally, we also provide visa invitation letters and help in facilitating the medical journey to India.

For any further assistance/queries or questions related to liver transplant surgery as well as services in India, do not hesitate to email us at the aforementioned address. We shall be glad to assist you and help you get well soon.

Frequently Asked Questions about Liver Transplant

What type of doctor does a liver transplant?

An expert in the liver transplant called a hepatologist conducts the surgery.

Can you live without a liver transplant?

Without a transplant, liver failure is usually fatal, a liver transplant will increase your life expectancy.

How long do you live after a liver transplant?

In general, approximately 75% of people who have a liver transplant live for at least five years. That means that 75 out of every 100 people who receive a liver transplant will live for five years.

Can a female donate liver to male?

The liver is known to be a sexual hormone-responsive organ. There are known to be gender differences in liver function. A higher failure rate for adult organ transplants from female donors to male recipients has recently been reported.

Can you donate liver twice?

A living donor’s liver regenerates completely in 4 months and eventually regains full function. The recipient benefits from the donated portion in the same way. So basically, yes.

Can a person live without a liver?

You cannot live without a functioning liver. If your liver fails to function properly, you may require a transplant

What happens in liver transplant rejection?

If your body rejects a transplant, you may experience some mild symptoms, though some patients may feel fine for a while. Early symptoms include a fever of more than 100° F or 38° C, increased liver function tests, yellowing of the eyes or skin, and fatigue.

How long does it take to recover from a liver transplant?

Expect a six-month or longer recovery period after your liver transplant surgery. You may be able to resume normal activities or return to work a few months after surgery.General anesthesia.

Is there an age limit for liver transplant?

Excellent outcomes can be obtained with elderly donors. There is almost no upper age limit for donors after brain death liver transplantation.

Who is the best match for a liver transplant?

A donor having the same blood type and approximate anatomy as the patient is considered as a good match.