Digestive Diseases: Liver Transplantation

• When is a liver transplant needed?
• How are candidates for liver transplant determined?
• Which tests are required before getting a liver transplant?
• How does the waiting list work?
• Where does a liver for a transplant come from?
• What happens when they find a match?
• What happens during the transplant operation?
• What complications are associated with liver transplantation?
• What are antirejection medications?
• When will I be able to go home?
• What follow-up is necessary after a liver transplant?

The liver is the body's largest internal organ, weighing about 3 pounds in adults. It is located below the diaphragm on the right side of the abdomen.

The liver performs many complex functions in the body, including:

• Produces most proteins needed by the body.
• Metabolizes, or breaks down, nutrients from food to produce energy, when needed.
• Prevents shortages of nutrients by storing certain vitamins, minerals and sugar.
• Produces bile, a compound needed to digest fat and to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K.
• Produces most of the substances that regulate blood clotting.
• Helps your body fight infection by removing bacteria from the blood.
• Removes potentially toxic byproducts of certain medications.

When Is a Liver Transplant Needed?

Liver transplantation is considered when the liver no longer functions adequately (liver failure). Liver failure can occur suddenly (acute liver failure) as a result of infection or complications from certain medications or it can be the end result of a long-term problem. The following conditions may result in liver failure:

• Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis.
• Primary biliary cirrhosis (a rare condition where the immune system inappropriately attacks and destroys the bile ducts causing liver failure).
• Sclerosing cholangitis (scarring and narrowing of the bile ducts inside and outside of the liver causing the backup of bile in the liver which can lead to liver failure).
• Biliary atresia (malformation of the bile ducts).
• Alcoholism
• Wilson's disease (a rare inherited disease with abnormal deposition of copper throughout the body, including the liver, causing it to fail).
• Hemochromatosis (a common inherited disease where the body is overwhelmed with iron).
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (an abnormal accumulation of alpha-1 antitrypsin protein in the liver, resulting in cirrhosis).
• Liver cancer

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• lactulose-oral, Chronulac, Constilac, Constulose, Duphalac, Evalose - Consumer information about the medication LACTULOSE - ORAL (Chronulac, Constilac, Constulose, Duphalac, Evalose), includes side effects, drug interactions, recommended dosages, and storage information. Read more about the prescription drug LACTULOSE - ORAL.
• Liver Blood Tests - Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, Tylenol liver damage, and more. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels)
• Cirrhosis (Liver) - Learn about cirrhosis of the liver symptoms including jaundice, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, itching, and easy bruising.

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