A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that replaces a diseased or damaged liver with a healthy liver from another person. An entire liver may be transplanted or just a piece of one.
A liver transplant is a major operation that replaces a diseased or damaged (scarred) liver with a healthy liver or a portion of a healthy liver (as the liver regenerates).
Liver transplantation is a well-recognized treatment option for people with liver failure; in Canada, more than 600 operations are performed each year.
In most cases, the healthy liver will come from an organ donor who has just died (a deceased donor) with consent from their next of kin. Sometimes a healthy living person will donate a portion of their liver. We call this person a living organ donor. Often this individual is a family member or a close friend, but they can also be a stranger. Liver transplant centres match donors with recipients based on compatible liver size and blood type.
A healthy living person who donates a piece of their liver goes on to live a healthy life with the liver that they have left. Your liver is the only organ in your body that can replace lost or injured tissue, through a process known as regeneration. Your living donor’s liver will grow back to normal size post-surgery. And the same applies to you – your new liver will grow to normal size in just a few weeks.
You need your liver to live. A liver transplant may be recommended to those who have a form of liver disease that is likely to shorten their life span or one that is causing a very poor quality of life. Here are some instances:
You need a referral from your doctor or healthcare provider to be considered for a liver transplant. Often, you’ll be connected to a transplant team by a hepatologist (liver specialist). You will then go through a series of tests and consultations with different doctors to see if you need a transplant, and if there are reasons why a liver transplant might not be right for you. If a liver transplant is thought to be the right fit for you, then you will be placed on a waiting list.
The waiting time for a transplant varies for many reasons. People with the most urgent need for transplant will be given the highest priority. This need is measured by a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. In kids, a modified scoring system, called Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) score, is used.
Prior to a liver transplant, you will have regular appointments with a series of different health professionals. You can expect to undergo a variety of tests and procedures, such as:
In short, a long incision (cut) will be made under your right rib cage to remove your diseased or damaged liver. Once placed, surgeons will connect your new liver to blood vessels and bile ducts. Your new liver should start functioning and producing bile right away. When you wake up from surgery, you’ll be cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU).
A normal recovery from a liver transplant surgery is 3 to 6 months. During this period, you will be monitored to ensure your immune system isn’t damaging your new – known as organ rejection. Rejection is most likely to happen in the first three months post-surgery, but it can happen at any time.
Your healthcare team will monitor organ rejection with blood tests. Some signs of rejection include:
Most people can live a normal life after a liver transplant. You will however, remain on medication for the rest of your life to prevent infection and organ rejection.
Post-transplant, you can experience the best outcomes by living a liver-friendly lifestyle:
