When Does One Need liver Transplantation?

Liver,in a human body, is known to be one of the largest organs, which is situated on back side of rib cage on the right. The functioning of liver includes the processing of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, along with this it breaks down the toxic substances like alcohol and drugs. If the functioning of liver fails, then it won’t be able to clot blood, as well as is not able to process nutrients which are essential for life.

If the functioning of liver is affected, then it may yellow juice, which is excreted by liver, and is called bile. So when such happens you may get jaundice, or yellow eyes, or you skin will itch because of accumulated bile. There are medicines to help with the treatment of symptoms of it, but no drugs to cure the failure of liver. If it starts to fail, then you are required to have a transplant.

There are several types of liver diseases which injure and prevent the functioning of liver.

·         Cirrhosis is when the healthy, normal tissue is replaced with scar tissue, which blocks the blood flow within the organ, and prevents it functioning. The major cause of this is excessive consumption of alcohol.

·         Hepatitis is the swelling or inflammation of liver, which is generally caused with a virus. There are many viral Hepatitis types, the common ones are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C which is more serious kind of Hepatitis virus.

·         Cancer is when the liver reproduces the cells faster than required; it creates cell growth resulting in tumour.

·         Wilson Diseaseis a metabolic disorder, which is inherited, in which there is too much of copper in the body.

·         There are also non-cancerous tumours and problem with supply of blood vessels to liver.

If these have progressed and can’t be treated, then transplantation is required, and if the transplantation is successful, then it will lead to an active and longer life.