Liver Transplant OPD
A liver transplant is a surgery to replace a diseased liver with a healthy liver from another person. A whole liver may be transplanted, or just part of one. In most cases the healthy liver will come from an organ donor who has just died.
Sometimes a healthy living person will donate part of their liver. A living donor may be a family member. Or it may be someone who is not related to you but whose blood type is a good match.
People who donate part of their liver can have healthy lives with the liver that is left.
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. The part that you receive as a new liver will also grow to normal size in a few weeks.
Why might I need a liver transplant?
A liver transplant may be recommended if you have end-stage liver disease (chronic liver failure). This is a serious, life-threatening liver disease. It can be caused by several liver conditions:
- Cirrhosis
- Acute hepatic necrosis
- Biliary atresia
- Viral hepatitis
- Metabolic diseases
- Primary liver cancers
- Autoimmune hepatitis
Our Expert
Dr. Hardev Ramandeep Singh Girn has finished Surgical Training and fellowships in the UK, Dr. Girn moved back to Punjab to pursue his passion for developing complex liver cancer surgery and liver transplantation which was rudimentary at that stage in 2013.
Dr. Girn’s passions revolve around system development for individualized high-quality evidence-based care of patients suffering from liver and gastro cancers and caring for cirrhotic patients and taking them on their journey to cure via liver transplantation. On average over 50 to 75 such complex liver and pancreatic procedures are performed per year now in SPS making it one of the highest volume centers in the region for liver cancer surgery.
Development of liver transplantation has been particularly challenging in the absence of cadaveric organ donation in Punjab and he has been working relentlessly to set up systems in the state for organ donation (First in DMCH and now in SPS hospitals).
Myths & Facts
FAQ’s
To find out whether you are a match, you must consult your doctor first. They may perform certain tests to determine whether you are eligible to donate a portion of your liver or not.
Yes, there is always a chance to find a match between people of different ethnicities and races. The requirement is that the donor and recipient should have similar blood & tissue types when it comes to liver transplants. The major requirements for being a donor is
- 18-55 years of age.
- Compatible Blood & Tissues types
- No sign of HIV, Hepatitis, or Heart/Lung disease
- Physically fit (BMI below 30 is recommended)
Yes. SPS Hospitals’ first priority is to always save your life first. Only when all life-saving methods have failed, will organ donation be considered.
No. The organ removal process is completely sterile and the body remains intact. There won’t be any disfigurement if you wish to become a donor.
Both living as well as deceased people can be liver donors. In the case of living people, only a part of the liver would be donated, as it would grow to its natural size in both the recipient as well as the donor’s body. In the case of deceased people, the complete liver can be donated and transplanted.
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