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Alternative names Return to top
Hepatic transplant; Transplant - liverDefinition Return to top
Liver transplant is surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from a donor.Description Return to top
Liver transplants have become common operations worldwide.
A healthy liver is usually obtained from a donor who has recently died, but has not suffered liver injury. The donor liver is transported in a cooled saline solution that preserves the organ for up to 8 hours, thus permitting the necessary tests for donor-recipient matching.
The diseased liver is removed through an incision in the upper abdomen. The donor liver is put in place and attached to the patient's blood vessels and bile ducts. The operation may take up to 12 hours and requires a large amount of transfused blood.
In some cases, a living donor may donate a section of liver for transplant to someone else, often a family member or friend. This poses some risk to the donor because of the nature of the operation, but since the liver can regenerate itself to some extent, both parties usually end up with fully functioning livers after a successful transplant.
Indications Return to top
A liver transplant may be recommended for:Risks Return to top
Risks for any anesthesia are:Expectations after surgery Return to top
Liver transplants can save the lives of people who might otherwise die. Approximately 75% of patients survive 3 years or more after the transplant. Major problems with any transplant include:Convalescence Return to top
The recovery period averages 12 weeks. Move legs often to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Resume normal activity as soon as possible after consulting with your physician. Update Date: 5/3/2004 Updated by: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |