Liver transplant life expectancy

Facts and generalinformation

For those people who are not that much into the human anatomy, the organ or rather the gland in question is considered to be the largest one of the kind in our body. This vital organ is situated on the right side of the abdomen and is known for its numerous functions. Some of them include storing fats and hydrolising, red blood cells decomposition, as well as detoxification. When all this is taken into consideration, it is obvious that this organ is extremely important when it comes to the proper functioning of our metabolism. But, on the other hand, there also exist numerous conditions that can hinder the proper functioning of the liver and cause unwanted damage. Among the most severe conditions and illnesses that can affect the liver to a great extent are hepatitis (chronic in nature), cirrhosis, liver tumor. In case, any of the previously mentioned illnesses makes progress and advances to a critical point, despite the medical treatment and conventional surgery, the last option to embrace is the transplantation of the liver. But even this “solution” has its downfalls, primarily physical, but also mental and emotionalexhaustion.

Life expectancy

When it comes to this question, unfortunately, there is no precise and definite answer. And this is due to an enormous number of causes, as well as factors. Among those most prominent ones is the fact that the entire concept of liver transplantation is still in its “youth”, i.e. developmental phase. Therefore, in the recent years there have been conducted numerous research studies aiming at comprehending the entire matter better and more profoundly, and thus they come to some definite answers and conclusion related to the overall life expectancy. The factor that is considered to be vital is the post-transplantation time frame. What has been confirmed so far is that those children who manage to withstand the first year after the procedure has been done, live long into the adulthood. As for the adults, no such clear cut rule exists since there have been recorded cases in which people were just unable to endure and deal with the post-operational complications with success, whereas others who were are able, live much longer.

Affecting factors

Even though the liver is considered to be the second most vital body organ, right after kidneys, people must understand that not every person suffering from certain liver related illness will qualify for the transplantation. Those persons who have damaged liver because of the alcohol or drug abuse, or due to the presence of cancer that has progressed and taken control over other organs, as well as due to progressive lung and heart illnesses, HIV or sepsis, unfortunately do not fall into the qualifying category. As for those who do manage to get another chance, they have to be extremely careful and pay a lot of attention, especially when post-operational care is in question, for this is vital for their recovery.