Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Liver Transplant or Liver Transplantation?

Liver Transplant is a medical procedure that involves transplanting the damaged or diseased liver with either complete healthy liver or a portion of the healthy liver form alive or deceased person to treat chronic and untreatable liver diseases.  

What are the advantages of a Liver Transplant?

Advantages of Liver Transplant are:

1. Treats both chronic and moderate liver diseases
2. Improves patient quality of life
3. Cure’s Wilson’s disease
4. Restores the liver function

What are the indications of Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant is indicated in the following conditions:

1. Liver disease not responding to the medications
2. End-stage of liver disease
3. Liver cancer not affecting the surrounding tissues and blood vessels
4. Chronic liver dysfunction

What is the preparation for Liver Transplant?

1. The doctor will examine the patient for MELD score.
2. Few tests may be recommended by the doctor such as liver function tests, blood tests, and urine tests.
3. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided for 6 months.
4. Inform the doctor about past and present medical and medication history.
5. Health condition of the patient will be evaluated by the doctor.

What are the steps involved in Liver Transplant?

Steps involved in Liver Transplantation are the following:

1. A portion or whole liver can be transplanted depending on the donor available
2. The patient will be sedated and the blood vessels of the liver and bile ducts are separated.
3. The damaged liver will be replaced by either a complete liver or a portion of the liver obtained from the donor.
4. After transplanting the healthy liver, the surgeon will connect the blood vessels and bile ducts.

What is the postprocedure care/recovery care for Liver Transplant?

1. The doctor will plan several follow-ups to evaluate and to examine the condition of the transplanted liver.
2. All vital signs along with the liver function will be monitored by nurses and doctors for up to 4-5 days in the hospital.
3. The patient will be discharged from the hospital with instructions after a stable liver function.
4. Immunosuppressants may be given to avoid liver rejection by the immune system.

Who can perform this [Right specialist type for Liver Transplant]?

Liver Transplantation can be performed by:

1. A trained Hepatologist in liver transplantation.
2. Gastroenterologist with successfully performed liver transplantations.
3. An experienced General surgeon

What is the cost of a Liver Transplant in Hyderabad?

Cost of the liver transplant in Hyderabad depends on the following factors:

1. Post-surgical complications that are involved
2. Relationship to the donor
3. Type of hospital
4. Experience of the surgeon
5. Admission fee
6. Severity of liver disease
7. Medical condition of the patient
8. Surgeon fee 

The minimum charges for Liver Transplant in Hyderabad start from Rs.22,00,000

Average cost for Liver Transplant in Hyderabad is approximately Rs.26,42,857

Maximum expenses for Liver Transplant in Hyderabad rise up to Rs. 30,00,000

Is Liver Transplant a major surgery or minor surgery?

Liver Transplantation is major surgery as it involves replacing the damaged liver with a healthy liver from either alive or deceased donor.

What is the eligibility criteria for a Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant can be performed on:

1. Individuals with liver disease that is not responding to the medications.
2. Individuals above 18 years old suffering from active chronic liver disease.
3. People suffering from liver cancer that is not spreading to surrounding tissues and blood vessels.

What is the ineligibility criteria for a Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant cannot be done in the following individuals:

1. People suffering from cancer outside the liver.
2. Individuals below 18 years old and suffering from acute liver disease that can be treated with medications.
3. People who cannot control alcohol consumption.

What are the risks and complications associated with Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant includes the following risks and complications:

1. Leakage of the bile ducts
2. Organ [liver] rejection by the immune system
3. Infection at the site of surgery
4. Bile ducts shrinkage
5. Blood loss
6. Organ[liver] failure
7. Formation of blood clots

How long does it take to complete Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant surgery may take 4-8 hours to complete. 

What is the recovery time?

Recovery time from Liver Transplantation depends on the condition of the immune system of an individual. However, people who undergo Liver Transplant may take about 3-5 months to recover. 

What is the success rate of Liver Transplant?

Liver Transplant success rate depends on factors such as:

1. Experience of the Surgeon
2. Severity of the liver disease
3. Condition of the immune system of an individual

Overall, the success rate of Liver Transplant ranges between 75% to 89%. 

Is Liver Transplant painful?

The patient will not feel any pain during the surgery due to the effect of general anesthesia.

Is Liver Transplant Permanent?

Liver Transplantation may be a permanent procedure as it involves replacing the damaged liver with a healthy liver from either alive or deceased donor.

What are the long-term effects of a Liver Transplant?

Long-term effects of Liver Transplant are the following:

1. Lifelong immunosuppression medications may be required
2. Increases the life expectancy of patients suffering from chronic liver disease
3. Improves the patient quality of life
4. Graft dysfunction
5. Increases the risk of developing a heart disease

Can Liver Transplant be detected in the future?

Due to the presence of scars at the site of surgery, Liver Transplantation may be detected in the future. 

What are the options if the Liver Transplant is not successful?

If Liver Transplantation fails, then the doctor may prescribe immunosuppressants for almost a lifetime. 

What are the alternatives for Liver Transplant?

Alternatives to Liver Transplant are:

1. Hepatocyte transplantation
2. Bioartificial liver devices
3. Extracorporeal artificial liver devices