The liver is the largest organ in the human body and is necessary for survival. Many causes explain liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis or cancer. Liver transplantation (or hepatic transplantation) is considered when the liver is too diseased to be cured. With liver transplantation, the diseased liver is replaced by a healthy liver.

Procedure information
A full liver or only a part of a healthy liver can be transplanted, as once implanted a piece of a healthy liver will grow into a normal-size liver. In most cases, the new liver comes from a deceased donor, but it is becoming more common for patients to receive liver tissue from a living donor, often a family member. Once a liver has been found to be compatible, depending on blood type, body size or severity of illness, the surgery is scheduled.

The patient is under general anesthesia throughout the surgery. An incision shaped like a boomerang on the upper part of the abdomen is made by the surgeon. The diseased liver is removed and the donated liver is inserted and attached to the major blood vessels in place and to the patient’s bile ducts. The incision is then closed. Liver transplant surgery typically lasts between six and 12 hours.

Recovery time
After liver transplant surgery, the patient will wake up in the intensive care unit after the anesthesia wears off. Most patients then stay in the hospital for up to three weeks after surgery. The length of the patient’s stay depends on the patient’s condition and progress. Starting right after surgery, medication needs to be taken for the rest of the patient’s life to avoid rejection, and this may cause side effects.

Most patients can return to a normal (or near-normal) lifestyle six months to a year after a successful liver transplant. They should avoid being in contact with people infected by a cold or flu. It is also essential to follow a balanced diet and have a healthy life (regular exercise for instance) to avoid the failure of the transplantation.