Liver transplant surgeries have become one of the common treatment approaches for those suffering from end-stage liver failure or liver cancer. The transplant process can help replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another donor or one from a deceased donor. The services of a reputed liver transplant hospital could help patients fight against liver failure and the associated health hazards.
What are the most notable liver ailments which require a liver transplant? Awareness regarding when patients need a liver transplant could help in combating the disease on time. Let us learn about the different health conditions which could require a liver transplant as the recommended treatment.
What Happens in a Liver Transplant?
A liver transplant is a surgical procedure for replacing a failing liver with a healthy liver from the donor. Patients could receive the whole liver from the deceased person or a part of the liver from a living donor. In the case of a transplant involving a part of the liver, it can grow into a full-size liver in the patient’s as well as the donor’s body.
Importance of Liver Transplants
Another important concern about liver transplants is the necessity of the procedure. The liver is one of the most vital organs of our body, and it can cause serious health concerns if it does not function optimally. A failing liver could be the result of many conditions. Therefore, liver transplants are generally last-resort procedures, where patients have no other option to save their lives.
Another important fact about liver transplant is that it is only an option to cure end-stage liver diseases.
Liver Health Conditions which Require Liver Transplant
The queries about the effectiveness of liver transplant surgery draw attention to health conditions it can solve. How does the liver fail or get injured? The most common causes of a failing liver include,
- Fatty liver disease
- Cirrhosis or chronic liver failure
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Liver cancer
- Acute liver failure
In the case of children, biliary atresia is one of the common causes of recommending liver transplants for children. Furthermore, doctors could also recommend liver transplants for the treatment of rare disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia and urea cycle disorders. Let us shed some more light on the common health conditions for which liver transplant is a mandatory treatment procedure.
- Acute Liver Failure
Acute liver failure happens due to causes such as toxic poisoning or viral hepatitis. Reactions to prescription medicines, herbal medicines, and illegal could also result in acute liver failure. Some of the other causes of acute liver failure include genetic disorders, blockage of liver blood vessels, and autoimmune diseases.
- Cirrhosis or Chronic Liver Failure
Chronic liver failure denotes the end stage of progressive liver disease which has spread. The distinctive mark of chronic liver disease is the development of scar tissue, replacing healthy liver tissue. The scar tissue restricts blood flow to the liver and breaks down the functions of the liver. Chronic liver failure is also known as cirrhosis of the liver.
- Alcoholic Liver Disease
Another health condition that requires a liver transplant as the recommended treatment is alcoholic liver disease. Excessive alcohol consumption results in a buildup of fat, scarring, and inflammation of liver tissue. Overconsumption of alcohol results in cirrhosis or irreversible liver failure, which demand a liver transplant for treatment.
- Liver Cancer
Another health condition which can be treated with a liver transplant is liver cancer. In the early stages of liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, a liver transplant can help in treating cancer. In some cases, doctors can remove only the cancerous portion of the liver with partial liver resection. The removal of cancerous growth in your liver can help in preventing the spread of cancer to other body parts.
Can You Avoid the Liver Transplant?
The critical nature of the liver as a vital organ offers a clear answer to your question. However, you can seek liver transplant treatment depending on the progress of your condition. For example, cases of acute liver failure symptoms show signs of recovery in a few instances. On the other hand, chronic liver failure takes some time to show symptoms. Therefore, a liver transplant is the recommended option you have to choose for the treatment of end-stage liver diseases.
Are You Prepared for a Liver Transplant Surgery?
The outline of the health conditions you can treat with a liver transplant could help in finding whether you are eligible. In addition, you need to find a reliable and reputed liver transplant hospital to determine your preparedness for a liver transplant. It is important to verify whether the hospital has all the facilities for testing and treatment along with qualified experts. Reach out to the best hospital for liver transplant surgery with top medical specialists.
Read more health blogs about Liver Transplant: What It is, Types & Why It Needs?
