Post Liver Transplant Complications

Liver transplant is a fairly common medical procedure taken up by medical experts, given to the common occurrence of liver diseases and disorders. As the name suggests, this procedure refers to a surgical process wherein, a diseased liver gets replaced by a healthy one, which is received from a donor. In most cases, the donor is a deceased person, and hasn't had a liver injury. However, a person can choose to donate a part of his liver, while he is still living. The liver has the ability to regrow itself. And in most cases, both people are able to have a fully functional liver post the operation. What is important to know about this procedure is that, people waiting for a transplant of this organ, outnumber those who are ready to donate. This is why, this medical option is especially reserved only for people whose condition is intensely critical. The fact that some people are able to avail the transplantation easily, while some have to wait for several months, is something that is common.

Complications that May Occur After Getting A Liver Transplant

As I said, if you are planning to have a liver transplant operation, it is important that you be aware of the procedure and most importantly the significant risks involved. This would provide you a great deal of help in preparing for the surgery, and also help you take steps to reduce the risks of complications. So the most common and severe types of complications may include:

• Breathing problems may arise as a result of anesthesia.
• Problems may occur with the bile duct (long tube-like structures that carry bile). The common ones may include bile ducts shrinkage or leakage.
• Bleeding is also one of the severe complications.
• Infection is another major risk that makes managing the condition after surgery a difficult process. This is due to the fact that the patient must take medication to suppress the immune system for the rest of his life, so that it does not reject the new liver that has been transplanted in the body. The important symptoms to watch for infection may include:
  • Drainage
  • Jaundice (the whites of the eyes, and the skin begin to turn yellow)
  • Swelling
  • Fever, and tenderness
• Medications that are prescribed after the operation (immunosuppressants) can also give rise to some additional side effects which may include:
  • Headaches
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes
  • Thinning of bones
  • Increased cholesterol levels
• Blood clots
• Another significant risk is failure of the donated liver.
• In some people, despite taking immunosuppressants, the immune system regards it as a foreign substance and attacks it thus, leading to its rejection. This may occur soon after the surgery, or may take months or years.
• Problems with memory and brain function may also occur.

Aftercare of Liver Transplant - Diet and Nutrition

A diseased liver, and a liver transplant takes a bit too much out of the body; the weight in particular. So the diet that must be followed after the surgery must be balanced and healthy. Patients are recommended to have a variety of fruits, and vegetables. Whole grain-cereal, and breads are good choices, and so are milk and other dairy products (low fat). It is also important to include healthy sources of protein in the diet. Drinking plenty of fluid, including water, is essential, and avoiding sugary products is recommended as an important step in a post liver transplant nutrition plan. The patient must also abstain from eating salty foods, adding extra salt to food, and use salt while cooking in sparing amounts.

Other self care measures to reduce the severity of complications that may arise post a liver transplant include, shunning smoking and alcohol for good, avoiding driving (at least until the first four weeks of the surgery), and avoiding keeping pets, primarily because of increased risk of infection. And to conclude, one can indulge in sexual activity if he feels he/she is up to it. It is not known to affect the recovery period.