A liver transplant is a surgical procedure in which a diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver of a deceased donor or a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. People suffering from severe complications resulting from end-stage chronic liver disease are usually candidates for a liver transplant. Liver transplantation may be an option in rare cases of sudden liver failure.

Who Performs Liver Transplant? 

Liver transplants are performed by a transplant surgeon who specializes in liver transplant surgery.

Types of Liver Transplant

Types of liver transplants include:

• Orthotopic transplant: Most liver transplants are done this way. It involves removing the entire liver of a recently deceased donor. It is usually from a donor who has consented to donate their organs before death and does not have any cancers or infectious diseases that could harm recipients.
• Living donor transplant: A living donor transplant refers to a procedure using a living donor who is willing to donate. The surgeon removes one of the liver lobes (left or right) during the first operation.
• Split type of liver transplant: When a liver from a recently deceased person is transplanted into two people, it is known as a split donation. It is possible if the two subsequent recipients are adults and children. The right and left lobes of the donated liver are separated. An adult is usually given the larger right lobe, while a child is generally given the smaller left lobe.
• Auxiliary liver transplantation: It does not entirely remove the liver of the recipient. Its purpose is to keep the native liver in case spontaneous healing occurs or future gene therapy can treat hereditary or metabolic liver diseases.

Preparations Before Liver Transplant

• Your doctor will explain the procedure. You may ask them any questions you have about the surgery.
• You will be asked to sign a consent form that authorizes the surgery. You have the right to ask questions if something is unclear.
• If you're having a planned living transplant, you shouldn't eat for at least 8 hours before the procedure. It means no food or drink after midnight. If a liver comes from a recently deceased donor,  you should not eat or drink it once you've been told it's available.
• Before the surgery, you might be given a sedative that helps you relax.