A liver is the largest internal organ situated below the diaphragm on the right side of the stomach. It has a pivotal role to perform in the systematic functioning of the body. It initiates protein production and helps in the breaking down of food to produce energy. If the liver stops functioning normally due to liver failure, it affects the entire body. Early detection helps in quick action and possible treatment for the disease. It is necessary to be informed about the procedures involving liver transplant surgery in India in case of chronic liver failure.
The need for liver transplantation
Liver transplantation is the process in which the damaged liver is replaced with a healthy liver during the surgery. The liver can be affected by a series of conditions that vary from person to person. The most common disease is called liver cirrhosis, found in adults. It is a chronic condition that blocks the flow of blood through the liver and is caused due to alcohol consumption, hepatitis B and C, autoimmune liver diseases, the buildup of fat in the liver, and genetic liver diseases.
Another disease concerning the liver is called biliary atresia, mostly affecting children. It is a rare condition that affects the bile duct that produces bile, a digestive juice that helps digest food. Liver diseases like cirrhosis, biliary atresia, liver cancer, liver tumors, and other hereditary liver cause extensive damage to the liver. While some of these ailments can be cured using simple surgeries and medications, other severe ones can be fully cured only by liver transplantation. A liver transplant surgery in India can be successfully carried out under the supervision of an expert medical professional.
How is a liver transplant operation done?
A liver transplant operation proceeds by the following steps:
- Running a health check– The patient is thoroughly examined to ensure the stability of his physical health. If he is suffering from other chronic diseases, the surgery cannot be performed.
- Selection of donors– There are two categories of donors – living donors and deceased donors. In the case of a living donor, multiple tests will be conducted to confirm his overall health. Those who have died due to brain hemorrhage or head injury will fall under the category of deceased donors. The donor and the recipient should possess compatible blood types.
- The operation– During operation, the surgeon disconnects the liver from the bile ducts and blood vessels and removes it, replacing it with the donor’s liver. A typical liver transplant operation takes about 4 to 14 hours, and it varies depending on the complications of the case.
Liver transplant surgery in India
Undergoing a liver transplant surgery in India is a practical and feasible step to take in today’s world. Max Super Speciality hospital has 200 members on board who are considered to be the pioneers in the liver transplant treatment process. With over 20 years of experience and 3000 successful liver transplants performed, they are specialists in this field. Max Centre for Liver and Biliary Sciences focuses on providing treatment to patients suffering from chronic liver failure, hepatitis, liver tumors, and other liver infections.
