Liver Transplant Surgery in India

Liver Transplant is a critical surgical procedure performed to replace a diseased or damaged liver with a healthy one from a donor. This intervention is typically reserved for patients experiencing liver failure due to chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, or acute liver failure.

Types of liver transplant surgery:

• Living Donor Transplant In this case, a portion of the liver (usually a lobe) is removed from a living donor, often a relative or close friend. Both the donor's remaining liver and the transplanted portion will regenerate over time.
• Deceased Donor Transplant This involves transplanting a whole liver from a recently deceased individual. It is the most common type of liver transplant.

Indications for Transplantation :

Liver transplants are indicated for several conditions, as below:

• End-stage Liver Disease: Chronic conditions such as hepatitis B or C, alcoholic liver disease, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease leading to cirrhosis.
• Acute Liver Failure: Sudden loss of liver function due to factors like drug toxicity or viral infections.
• Liver Cancer: In certain cases where cancer is confined to the liver and meets specific criteria.

Surgical Procedure :

The procedure for a liver transplant generally includes the following steps:

• Preparation: Patients receive general anesthesia and are monitored closely. An incision is made in the abdomen to access the liver.
• Removal of Diseased Liver: The surgeon disconnects the blood vessels and bile ducts from the diseased liver and removes it.
• Transplantation of Donor Liver: The healthy donor liver is placed in the same location, and its blood vessels and bile ducts are connected to the recipient's anatomy.
• Closure: After ensuring proper connections, the incision is closed using stitches or staples.