How The Patients Are Put on The Waiting List For The Liver Transplant in India

Similarly like any other organ transplant, liver transplant in India is carried out when a person undergoes liver damages as a result of various health conditions. Depending on the condition of the liver, either whole or a partial liver is implanted in them after removing their diseased liver. Since the liver is the only regenerative organ in the human body; a partial liver can regenerate into a fully developed liver over time. The regeneration process started taking place immediately after the transplant surgery both in the body of the living donor as well as the recipient. Since, the patients waiting for the liver transplant is greater than the live donors, critically ill patients were given priority for the transplant.

Depending on the condition of the liver damage of patients, doctors may suggest a transplant for the same. In order to carry out the transplant surgery, the first step is to put the patients on the waiting list for the liver transplant. Let us discuss the steps involved in putting a patient on the waiting list.

Patients placed on the waiting list:

Under the supervision of liver transplant surgery specialists in India, transplant surgery takes place. Various hospitals that have infrastructure suitable to carry out an organ transplant surgery have their own waiting list for organ transplant which is linked with a centralized website of National Organ and Tissue transplant organization. The hospitals are required to conduct different health tests and follow various procedures to determine whether the patient can be put on the waiting list for liver transplant. They are as follows -

Heart Tests - to assess the condition of the cardiovascular system of the patients

Imaging test - which includes an ultrasound of the liver

Pathology test - it includes urine and blood tests to assess the overall health of the internal organs including the liver.

Apart from different health tests, the patients are required to undergo the following counseling sessions as well.

Financial counseling - The liver transplant cost in India varies between different healthcare facilities. This type of counseling helps the patients understand the possible cost involved in transplant surgery as well as post-surgery care. It also helps the patients to understand, what costs involved will be covered by insurance.

Psychological counseling - to make the patients understand the possible risks involved in liver transplant.

Addiction counseling - If the patients have addictions to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, regular counseling can help them get over the addiction, which is important both during pre and post-transplant phase.

Nutritional counseling - Dietitians determines the current nutritional condition of the patients and provide nutritional intake guidance which they are required to follow during pre and post-transplant care.

The selection committee for the liver transplant in India in every individual healthcare centers determines whether the liver transplant is the best treatment option and whether the patient is healthy enough to undergo such surgery based on the health tests and counseling reports. If the answer to both these questions is positive, the patient will be put on the liver transplant waiting list.

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