Liver Transplant

1. What is the cost of the tests done before liver transplant?

There are several pre-liver transplant tests that you will have to get including an MRI of the abdomen/pelvis, CT scan of abdomen/pelvis, colonoscopy, dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE), ultrasound of abdomen/pelvis, electrocardiogram/chest X-ray,, mammogram or pap smear for women, and other testing and blood work. The package typically includes the cost of these tests too.

2. Is the medicine cost included in the liver transplant package?

Immediately after the liver transplant, the patient must take three medications in high dosages to avoid rejection of the liver. Later, different assortments of medications and lesser dosages are given to the patient to minimize side effects and the immune system to recover. The medicine cost is included in the package when the patient is in the hospital getting a liver transplant. However, medicines taken for recovery are not covered in the package.

3. How long the patient has to stay in the hospital after a liver transplant?

For a liver transplant, you will have to stay at the hospital for about 2 to 3 weeks. Some patients go home sooner depending on their health. The first follow-up is generally within 1 to 2 weeks after you leave the hospital. The follow-ups will continue for 3 alternating months in the first year and then once a year for the rest of your life.

4. Is there any post-treatment expense after getting a liver transplant?

After getting a liver transplant, you need to follow up with your doctors who may take several blood tests to check the health of your new liver, which will cost you extra. You will also need to take immunosuppressants that help your body not prevent the transplanted liver. To avoid complications such as bleeding (hemorrhage), bile leakage, loss of kidney function, etc., you will have to take certain medications, which will cost you extra. We highly suggest you contact your doctor to know the best treatment course for you.

5. Does insurance cover liver transplants?

Yes, a liver transplant is generally covered in your health insurance under the “Donor expense cover”. You may still contact your insurance provider to know more about different plans and coverage.

6. Are there cheaper options for liver transplants?

A liver transplant is an effective option to treat liver damage, however, due to the long waiting list to find the perfect matching donor, people settle for lesser treatment options including extracorporeal artificial liver devices, bioartificial liver devices using hepatocytes, or hepatocyte transplantation. Do check in with your transplant doctor to know the best course of action.

1. What is Rejection syndrome ?

Rejection is your body’s way of not accepting the transplant. Although rejection is most common in the first six months after surgery, it can occur at any time.

2. Do liver transplants work?

A liver transplant is surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person. A whole liver may be transplanted, or just part of one.The liver is the only organ in the body that can replace lost or injured tissue (regenerate). The donor’s liver will soon grow back to normal size after surgery.

3. What is the average life expectancy after a liver transplant?

In general, about 75% of people who undergo liver transplant live for at least five years.

4. Any age limit for liver transplantation?

The age limit is individualized as it varies with a patient’s overall health condition. However, it is rare to offer liver transplant to someone greater than 70 years old.

5. What is sucess rate of liver transplant?

89-90%

6. What are the legal requirements before a liver transplantation?

Attested birth certificate of the patient and the donor, Attested family records of the patient and the donor, Passport copies of the patient and the donor and in case of a married donor, an attested consent of the donor’s husband/wife. There could be other documents specific to your case, and you must talk about it in detail with your case manager.

7. What is a Liver Transplant?

Liver transplant is the procedure which is used for replacing the diseased part of the liver with the healthy part of the liver called as donor.

8. When is Liver Transplant Needed?

Liver transplant is needed in case of some conditions such as chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis, primary biliary cholangitis, sclerosing cholangitis, alcohol overuse, liver cancer, wilsons disease and hemochromatosis.

9. What are the chances of surviving a liver transplant?

The chances of living after liver transplant is 89%. In some cases the transplanted liver can fail or the original disease may come.

10. Can you live a normal life after a liver transplant?

The result of liver transplant is excellent, most people have lead a normal life even after 30 years after surgery.

11. Who is not eligible for a liver transplant?

You are not eligible for liver transplant if your age is 65 years or more than it and you are having severe obesity with disease such as hepatitis B.

12. Does a liver transplant shorten your life?

Most people who undergone liver transplant can live for more than 10 years and many patients can live for 20 years or even more than it. According to a study it is said that 90% of people who have undergone liver transplant has survived for one year or even more.

1. What is the duration of surgery?

The duration of the surgery ranges from 4 to 18 hours depending on outcome.

2. When can I be discharged from the hospital after a liver transplant?

After the liver transplant, patients will be in the intensive care unit for two days. After that, they are in the regular part of the hospital for about eight to ten days.

3. How much time is needed for liver transplant?

Liver transplant is a major surgery it will take around six to twelve hours to complete.

4. How is liver transplant done?

In liver transplant the surgeon first operate on the donor part of your liver by removing the portion of liver required for transplant. Then the surgeon removes the disease part of your liver and place the donated part of your liver and then blood vessels and bile ducts are connected to new liver. The following steps are being followed during liver transplant surgery:

• An incision is made in your abdomen
• Blood vessels are being cut off to the diseased part of your liver
• Diseased liver is removed and then it is replaced with a healthy donor liver
• Reattach the bile ducts and blood vessels.
• At last it is attached to the bile ducts and blood vessels and the incisions are closed.

1. DO i need to take medications life long post surgery?

Liver transplant patients will need to take some combination of medications for life after their transplant.

2. Will you have any pain after liver transplant?

You will definitely have some pain after liver transplant but the pain is not severe just like other abdominal surgeries because the nerves which are disconnected during the initial abdominal incisions causes numbness of the skin and near the abdomen and the nerves regenerate in six months after surgery.

3. How long does it take to recover after a liver transplant?

The recovery time after liver transplant will be of six months or more before you are completely healed. You will be able to do your normal activities and go back to work within a few months after surgery.

4. What are the complications after a liver transplant?

Complications of liver transplant includes acute graft rejection, vascular thrombosis, biliary leak or stricture, infection and malignancy.

5. What happens if your body rejects a liver transplant?

If your body rejects liver transplant then your body may experience some mild symptoms for it initially such as having high fever, increased liver function tests, yellowing of the eyes and skin and fatigue.

6. When does a liver transplant fail?

There are very less chances of rejection in liver transplant, only 30 out of 100 patients have suffered from rejection. The risk of rejection after liver transplant is very high in the first six months after transplant because at this time there is less chance that your body will recognise liver coming from another person.