LIVER DISEASE,TRANSPLANTATION AND HEPATOBILARY SURGERY

A liver transplant is considered when a patient has reached the state of end-stage liver failure. Failure of liver can happen suddenly, either due to an infection or due to particular medications or from a long-term medical problem. Liver failure is known to occur due to the following reasons:

• Alcoholism
• Alpha – 1 Antitrypsin deficiency (a typical accumulation of antitrypsin protein in the liver causing cirrhosis)
• Biliary Atresia – malformation of the bile ducts
• Chronic Hepatitis with Cirrhosis
• Hemochromatosis – an inherited disorder that overwhelms the body with abnormal levels of iron deposits
• Liver Cancer
• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis – an unusual condition where the immune system attacks and annihilates the bile ducts which results in failure of the liver
• Sclerosing Cholangitis - the insider and outside of the bile ducts get scarred and become narrow, which causes the bile to back-up, ultimately leading to failure of the liver
• Wilson's disease – a very rare inherited disease that causes abnormal levels of copper deposition throughout the body, causing liver failure

Specialists from different medical disciplines will evaluate and determine whether a liver transplant is needed. They will review the medical history of the patient, if the candidate is determined to be an active liver transplant patient then their name will be placed on the waiting list, until a live or deceased donor becomes available and whose liver can be matched. Order of priority for liver transplant is determined on the scores of MELD (Model of end-stage liver disease) and PELD (Pediatric end-stage liver disease).

Three simple blood tests comprising creatinine, bilirubin, and INR provide the scores that determine the order priority on the waiting list, for receiving a liver transplant. The sicker a patient, higher their score and higher the necessity for a liver transplant.

When a liver has been identified, the liver transplant coordinator will contact the patient. Further tests such as an electrocardiogram, additional blood tests and a chest x-ray will be performed. A surgical resident and the anesthesiologist will also meet with the patient. The donor liver will be matched to determine whether it will be accepted by the patient.

The surgery will take anywhere between 6 to 12 hours. Certain tubes will be inserted to help the patient's body carry out its normal functions during and after the surgery.

Our transplant team is one of the most experienced in performing and managing liver transplants, having trained extensively in the best centers across the world. It is one of the few centers in the country where deceased donor, living donor liver transplantation and comprehensive treatment for gastrointestinal, hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases are all offered under one roof.

We have a dedicated 'LIVER HELPLINE' number: +91 8056288833 and an email: liverhelpline@kauveryhospital.com for the benefit of patients. This aims to provide comprehensive counselling and management to patients.