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Liver and Pancreas Transplantation

Liver and Pancreas Transplantation in India

Liver and Pancreas Transplantation ( Adult and children) The liver is one of the most complex organs playing an important role in the quality of life. Liver transplantation restores a better quality of life and helps patients in living healthy. A pancreas transplant is a surgery to implant a healthy pancreas from a donor into a person with diabetes. Pancreas transplants give the person a chance to stop taking insulin injections. This operation is usually done at the same time as a kidney transplant in diabetic people with kidney disease. The combined operation takes about 6 hours.

Who needs a liver transplant? It's usually recommended when the liver has been damaged to the point that it cannot perform its normal functions. This is known as ‘’liver failure or end-stage liver disease or Cirrhosis of liver’’ Without a liver transplant, it is highly likely that your expected lifespan would be very short and your quality of life is very poor. Liver transplantation is necessary for patients suffering from following liver diseases which lead to failure:

  • Hepatitis and other viruses
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Liver cancer ( HCC) 
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (this happens from metabolic syndrome and is caused by conditions such as obesity, high cholesterol and triglycerides, and high blood pressure)
  • Autoimmune disorders, where the body’s infection-fighting system (immune system) attacks healthy tissue
  • Blocked or damaged tubes (bile ducts) that carry bile from the liver to the intestine ( Biliary atresia, PSC) 
  • Use of certain medicines which can lead to liver injury
  • Exposure to certain toxic chemicals (Ex:  Rat poison etc) 

Some diseases passed from parent to child (inherited diseases) may also cause cirrhosis. These may include:

  • Hereditary build-up of too much copper (Wilson disease) or iron (hemochromatosis) in the body
  • High blood galactose levels
  • Glycogen storage diseases

Who needs pancreas transplant? 

Pancreas transplant is done for patients suffering from type 1 Diabetes. These patients also suffer from kidney failure secondary to diabetes and therefore would also require kidney transplants. Combined pancreas and kidney transplant would offer a cure for such patients.

Complexities of liver and pancreas transplant Liver transplant and pancreas transplants are one of the most complex procedures in the field of surgery. However, with development in the medical field and also in the expert hands, the success rates are very high. However due to the complexity of the procedure and also due to immunosuppression patients can develop complications such as infection, clotting or narrowing of the blood vessels, bile leaks rejection etc.

Life after liver transplant

It is often said liver transplant gives second life. It is true because these patients would have suffered so much that liver transplant is boon for them. Their conditions improve dramatically and would get back to normal condition within couple of months. They would be able to go back to work and perform daily activities except for heavy sports and physical work. However they have to take medications as advised by their doctor regularly without fail.

Life after pancreatic transplant.

These patients can get rid of insulin completely as well as dialysis. They can start eating normal food including sweets. Many of these patients would be suffering from neurological problems which will get reversed.