Liver Transplantation

Liver Tranplantation Overview

The liver is absolutely essential to your health, and if the liver becomes severely diseased, it's impossible for the human body to function properly. This means only one option is open for survival: liver transplantation.

Many people don't know much about their liver. It's the largest solid organ in the body, and among the most important functions the liver performs are the following:

• the liver produces glucose, which is a basic energy source,
• the liver produces proteins, which are needed for growth,
• the liver produces blood clotting substances that help heal wounds,
• the liver is a filter which screens and removes toxic and harmful substances from the blood,
• the liver produces bile, which is necessary for absorbing fats and vitamins. Bile is stored in the gallbladder.

Liver disease, which may occur for a number of reasons, compromises these critical liver functions. When damage to the liver is severe and the liver is no works, liver transplantation is necessary.

The most common liver diseases that can lead to liver transplantation in adults are hepatitis and cirrhosis.

Children under 18 may suffer from biliary atresia, which occurs when the bile duct doesn't develop properly.

More than 5000 transplants are performed annually in the U.S. Between 17,000 and 20,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a liver transplant.

More livers are transplanted in the U.S. than any other organ except the kidney.

How long does a liver transplant take?

The amount a time that liver transplant surgery actually takes will vary from patient to patient. Generally, however, a liver transplant will take 3-5 hours of actual surgery.

How is a liver transplant done?

The liver transplant surgical team will make an incision in the upper abdomen. The diseased liver is then removed, and the donor liver replaces it. The surgeons will attach your blood vessels to the new liver. The bile duct of the "new" liver is attached to the patient's bile duct. In some cases, the bile duct of the new liver may be attached to a segment of the small intestine in order for bile to drain more efficiently.

Do liver transplants fail?

Yes, sometimes a liver transplant doesn't work because of

• resistance by your immune system: this is called liver transplant rejection
• underlying causes of liver disease have not changed and those causes contributed to damage to the new liver
• other factors that were beyond the control of you or your doctors.

If liver transplant rejection occurs after the first operation, you may choose to become a candidate for a second transplant. This decision can be made by you and your doctors depending on your current health, your ability to undergo surgery again, and your desire to continue treatment.