FAQ
Patients Question
Please find below a few frequently asked questions about liver disease. If you any specific questions to be included here, pl email us @ healthyliverindia@gmail.com.
Easy fatigability and lethargy, progressive or persistent jaundice, abdominal distension (Ascites), altered mental functions or sensorium (Hepatic encephalopathy), decreased urine output or rental failure, easy bruisability or recurrent epistaxis (coagulopathy) and/or hematemesis and passage of black colored stools signifies presence of liver failure. Patients of liver cirrhosis with any any of these features require evaluation by a specialist requirement of a liver transplant.
Common aliments leading to end stage liver failure include alcohol, viral hepatitis(Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C), autoimmune liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cryptogenic liver disease (when cause is not known) and cholestatic liver diseases like primary or secondary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
In children, Congenital disorders like biliary atresia, Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestatis (PFIC) and Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis can lead to end stage live failure and requires a liver transplant.
Sometimes patients without any evidence of any liver disease or cirrhosis develop liver failure like deep and progressive jaundice, altered sensorium or liver coma (Hepatic Encephalopathy). This disease is medically called as acute liver failure or fulminant liver failure. Patients of this disease usually don't survive unless an urgent liver transplant is performed.
Various causes that can lead to acute liver failure include overuse of drugs (paracetamol) or toxins (herbal or ayurvedic medications), viral hepatitis (Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E and Hepatitis B) and Wilson's disease (an inborn disorder of copper metabolism). Acute or fulminant liver failure as a result of any of these conditions is an emergency and an urgent liver transplant (within hours) has to be performed.
The new liver is derived either from a brain dead heart beating (cadaveric) donor or from a voluntary living liver donor.
In India, cadaveric liver transplantation is less popular owing to lack of cadaveric organ donation. Awareness regarding sanctity of organ donation is still in its infancy not only in india but in the eastern part of the world making Living Donor Liver Transplant more popular in these areas.
Any person above the age of 18 years can legally donate his part of liver. However, in India as per Human Organ Act 1996, liver donation is restricted to family members (brother, sister, father, mother, son, daughter) or close relatives (under, aunt, cousin, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grand parents). Medically, the liver donor should have a compatible blood group (same blood group as patient or O group), should not be more than 55 years of age and should be medically fit and psychologically sound. All voluntary liver donors are evaluated thoroughly to look for medical and surgical fitness.
The success rate of liver transplant word wide is around 85-90%. Most of the patients lead a normal, healthy and productive life following a liver transplant. However, the individual outcome depends on patient factors like causes of the disease, degree of liver failure, patient's general conditions,etc., and cannot be generalised.
Donor can usually be discharged with in 10 days and patients within 2-3 weeks time. Donor can resume his normal activity within 3-4 weeks and resume his job within 6 weeks times and patients within 4-6 months. No special precautions are needed for donor after 4-6 weeks and he lives a normal life thereafter. Patients of liver transplants have to receive life-long immunosuppressive medication. He has to take special care for preventions of infections.There are no specific dietary restrictions. However, consumption of raw vegetables (uncooked food) in salads and peel less fruits(apples, grapes) has to be avoided.
Patients of liver cirrhossis with end stage liver failure require a liver transplant. The other condition requiring a liver transplant include acute or fulminant liver failure and liver cancer(Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
At our liver transplant centre at BLK Hospital, success rate of liver transplant is more than 95%.
