Complications in liver transplant surgery

Liver transplant surgery is recommended when the liver fails to function normally or stops functioniong altogether. The reason for liver failure can be one or all the following reasons:

1. Wilson's disease

2. Alcoholism

3. Chronic hepatitis with cirrhosis

4. Biliary atresia

5. Liver Cancer

6. Deficiency of Alpha-1 antitrypsin

7. Sclerosing cholangitis

Usually the liver transplant surgeon recommends the following tests for the patient in order to understand the condition of the liver and decide if transplantation can be undertaken. The tests suggested are as follows:

a. Doppler Ultrasound – To determine if the blood vessels to and from the liver are open.

b. Computed tomography to get the picture of the liver. It's exact size and shape.

100. Echocardiogram – This test checks the heart.

500. Blood test to know the blood type, its clotting ability, biochemical status of the blood and most of all to measure the liver function.

e. Examination of the pulmonary functions in order ot determine the ability of the lungs to exchange oxgen and carbon dioxide.

Hepatasis screening and AIDS tests are also done before liver transplantation surgery.

Liver transplant is a complex procedure, and involves a number complications. Some of the major complications involved are failure in grafting, liver rejection, high risk of infection, biliary conditions etc.

Graft Failure

This is a condition wherein the transplanted organ does not work in the rigth manner. Regarded as one of the most serious complications in liver transplantation, graft failure occurs in at least 1 in every 10 people. Graft failure occurs due to thrombosis/ blood clots to the tranplanted liver. Its symptoms include fluid retention, swollen tummy and jaundice.

Liver Rejection

Another very common complication in liver transplant surgery is that of liver rejection. It occurs in weeks or months after the transplant and the usual signs are high fever, diarrhea, jaundice and abdominal pain. This situation occurs in one out of three people and can be addressed by making alterations in the dose of immunosuppressant medications.

Risk of infection

This situation arises as the patient's immune system is weakened by the immunosuppressant medications. Symptoms of infections are aching muscles, diarrhea, headaches, fever etc. This condition is usually contained by adminstering antifungal and/ or antiviral medication.

Biliary condition

This condition arises when the biliary tract is obstructed or there is bile leakage. The bile leak is treated by inserting a drainage tube and the obstruction can be treated with endoscopy.

Along with this there are chances of kidney failure as well.

For more information on liver transplant and related issues at www.psrihospital.com.

PSRI hospital is among the top 10 hospitals in India and has till date successfully conducted several number of liver transplants.