During disease or injury, the liver tends to lose some of its essential functions resulting in liver failure. In children, biliary atresia is the most common reason for a liver transplant. It is a procedure wherein a diseased/ defective liver is replaced with a healthy liver. A healthy liver may be from a deceased person or a portion of a liver from a healthy person.
There is a lot of information on the website https://www.takingcareofmyliver.com/ about liver transplants. You can learn about the different types of liver transplants, who is eligible for one, how to get on the waiting list, and what happens after surgery. You can get all answer here.
The transplant procedure involves:
- Removal and preparation of donor’s liver
- Removal of the diseased liver
- Implantation of the new organ
The success rate of such liver transplants and long-term survival depends upon the disease burden, patient’s immunology, body size, blood type, etc.
Research suggests that about 75% of people undergoing liver transplants live for at least five years.
Let us look at all the crucial steps to take proper care of liver transplant patients.
Stay in the ICU or Intensive Care Unit for as long as you feel safe and comfortable enough to be up on your own. During this time, doctors and nurses will watch for your complications, proper liver function, etc.
Shift to the recuperating area or general ward, where you can spend 5-10 days. Everything from exercise and diet to medication should be rigorously monitored during this period. Follow-ups should be regularly attended.
Join a support group which would help you ease the fear, doubts, and anxiety regarding life after transplant and give you a positive outlook on how to cope with different challenges and barriers. It would also help you set realistic goals and expectations. For instance, coming to terms with the fact that life after a transplant may not be the same as before.
Your diet post-liver transplant should be low in salt, cholesterol, fat and sugar. Avoid alcohol and tobacco at all costs. Grapefruit should never be consumed because of its adverse effect on immunosuppressants. Choose whole grains over processed ones, include a lot of fibre and roughage in your diet, and low-fat, low-dairy items
After ensuring food safety guidelines, lean meat, poultry, and fish should be consumed.
The body must be well hydrated with a regular intake of water, fresh fruit juices and electrolytes if necessary.
Cleanliness is the first step toward a speedy and healthy recovery. The house must maintain good ventilation, and objects and rooms should be regularly cleaned and sanitised to avoid microbial contamination.
Consult super-specialists from the safety and comfort of your home. SeekMed allows you to connect with an award-winning gastroenterologist like Dr. Ajay Kumar. It also helps you find the best hospital for liver transplants in India. So simply search for Dr. Ajay Kumar or the best hospital for liver transplants in India to improve your health outcomes after a liver transplant
