The liver is an organ that performs a number of important functions in the body. Among other things
In the case of severe liver disease, a transplant can be the last resort for those affected. Here you will find further information as well as selected liver transplant specialists and centers.
A liver transplant is the transplantation of a healthy liver into the body of another person. It can be provided either from an organ donation from a deceased person or through a living donation.
Unlike a damaged kidney(dialysis), there is currently no artificial method of imitating the basic functions of the liver. Transplantation is therefore often the last chance of survival for patients.
A transplant is a very expensive procedure. It can cost almost 200,000 euros, which is covered by statutory health insurance.
If the patient's own liver is no longer able to cope with important tasks such as detoxification, the patient needs a new organ.
A patient's own liver can be impaired for various reasons. Both congenital damage and diseases such as
can result in irreparable damage and therefore a transplant.
There are also other diseases that can render the liver non-functional, including
As with the transplantation of other organs, there are several stages in the long process of a liver transplant:
Waiting period
The waiting time must be accepted by patients - even in acute cases. Unfortunately, many more organs are needed than are available. For this reason, there is a waiting list on which you must be placed.
These waiting lists are also common for other organs such as the heart, kidneys or lungs. The waiting time can be several months or even years. This is dangerous for people with severe liver damage, as the functions of the liver can only be compensated for to a limited extent using certain techniques.
Examinations and surgery
Once a donor liver has been found, things have to move quickly. Basic examinations are carried out to check for
is checked. The operation must also be carefully prepared by the surgical team.
After removal, the organ must be transplanted within a time frame of 16 to 24 hours. The longer the liver transplant is delayed, the less well the functions can be restored.
The actual operation takes around eight hours. Parts of a healthy liver can also be transplanted. The special regenerative capacity of the organ makes it possible in suitable cases to distribute parts of a donor liver among several patients.
This method can be used in particular when transferring a liver from adult patients to children. This enables parents to donate part of their liver to their children if necessary.
Aftercare and support
After the procedure, the donor remains in hospital for a few days. The recipient, on the other hand, will have to stay in the clinic a little longer.
This time is not only used for recovery, but also to optimally adjust the medication. Specifically, we are talking here about immunosuppressants. These are used because the body will "fight" a foreign organ. The administration of these drugs reduces the risk of rejection.
Important: Psychological treatment should not be neglected after such a serious procedure.
There is no clear answer to either question. In principle, complications can occur during and after any surgical procedure. Infections, bleeding or wound healing disorders can occur.
Other complications include rejection of the transplanted organ.
Life expectancy after an operation depends on various questions:
In general, the one-year survival rate is more than 90 percent. After ten years, more than 70 percent of those affected are still alive.
As medicine is constantly evolving, these figures could continue to rise in the future.
Liver transplants are regulated by law and are only permitted at certain university hospitals.
If a tumor is present, an oncologist is also consulted. The attending physician will refer the patient to the appropriate specialist.
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