EN
Liver transplant is a surgical procedure during which a healthy part of liver is withdrawn from donor and is used to replace the affected liver of the patient. The operation takes quite long time and is a scrupulous procedure that requires a team of doctors with great professionalism. That is why in this case it is best to entrust your health to experienced doctors from foreign clinics. Modern medicine has managed to achieve high success rate in liver transplantation, also minimizing the risk for the donor. MediGlobus recommends choosing clinics in India and Turkey for liver transplantation. The medical centers of these countries combine huge experience and a decent price policy. High quality liver transplantation is carried out by doctors from Israel, Germany and South Korea. However, the cost of liver transplantation in these countries is very expensive.
INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Liver transplantation is carried out in patients who have been diagnosed with:
Cirrhosis;
Hepatic insufficiency;
Viral hepatitis;
Early stages of liver cancer;
Metastases in the liver;
Serious injuries, congenital anomalies and other diseases;
Liver transplantation is not performed if:
The malignant tumor in the liver has spread to the nearest organs or tissues;
There are infectious diseases (AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis);
Active stage of hepatitis.
LIVER DONATION
Until recently, an operation was carried out using the organ from a cadaver donor. However, now in all developed countries it is forbidden – you can transplant the liver only from a living relative. In the case of Turkish clinics, it is possible to donate an organ to a close friend of the family. It is important to understand two things about donation:
1.It is absolutely free of charge. Any attempt to buy or sell human organs is a criminal offense in any country of the world.
2. It is safe. If we are talking about an operation in a foreign clinic by an experienced team of doctors, we can talk about the 100% success of the procedure for the donor. Modern transplantology has managed to minimize the risks of such an operation, so do not worry if you want to donate part of your liver to a family member.
PRE-OPERATIONAL PREPARATION
In any foreign clinic, before conducting the procedure of a liver transplant, it is necessary to undergo all diagnostic procedures to confirm the diagnosis. After which a special compatibility test is carried out for the donor and the recipient. It will be also necessary to undergo a standard preoperative diagnosis, which includes:
Advanced blood test (including biochemical);
CT and MRI;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity;
Electrocardiography (ECG)
An operation is prescribed if no contraindications are found and the donor is suitable. The method of immunosuppression is determined in advance. This is an artificial decrease in the patient’s immunity in order to avoid rejection of the donor organ by the body.
OPERATION TECHNIQUE FOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Surgery for a liver transplant is one of the most difficult among organ transplant surgeries. In this case, the doctors operate on two people at once – the donor and the recipient.
Therefore,the procedure is carried out by two teams of doctors in the foreign centers of transplantation. How long the liver transplantation operation lasts depend on the professionalism and coherence of the working teams. In average it takes 8 to 12 hours. Each team of doctors consists of an anesthesiologist, surgeons, transplantologists and nurses.
During the operation, the donor and recipient status is maintained by means of special devices, blood pressure and other vital signs are monitored.
In the organ transplantation centers of foreign clinics, doctors use microsurgical techniques and robotic devices designed to automate the process. The liver of the recipient is most often completely removed, but in case of certain indications it can be partially removed. Liver is withdrawn no more than 50% from the donor – depending on the ratio of the physiological parameters of the donor and the recipient (height, weight, physical condition).
Liver transplant statistics & success rate
The success rate of a liver transplant operation in the developed countries of the world is 95%, in some foreign clinics it is as high as 98%. And the organ survival rate is 95%. Leading world transplantologists have achieved 70% of patients’ survival in the 10-year perspective.
Postoperative period
After the operation for liver transplantation, the patient spends several days in the intensive care unit. After that he is transferred to the rehabilitation department, where he will receive further rehabilitation for several weeks (usually no more than 4 weeks). During this period, the patient must take immunosuppressive medication so that transplant rejection does not occur.
During the postoperative period, a special diet is assigned to both the donor and the recipient. The donor is discharged after a 7-day hospitalization.
LIFESTYLE AFTER LIVER TRANSPLANT
For the donor: The donor’s liver is restored to its former size in half a year, provided that the diet and other prescriptions of the doctor are followed.
For the recipient: The patient is prescribed periodic examinations with a doctor, as well as medicines and a diet.
The risk of developing complications in the patient after liver transplantation does not differ from traditional operational risks. Among the side effects identified are:
Transplant rejection;
Occurrence of infections;
Bleeding and bruising;
Stenosis and thrombosis.
Choosing a good clinic, a qualified doctor and with the right approach to the procedure, all these side effects can be avoided. But even with side effects, experienced medical personnel react quickly and effectively to eliminate them on time. It should be noted that the procedure for liver transplantation is carried out only if there is absolute indications for this and conservative treatment does not yield results.
Leave us a request if you need a liver transplant. Mediglobus coordinators will help you find a clinic, a doctor and an individual cost of treatment. Our support is free.
