Frequently Asked Questions

The complications of liver diseases start showing very slowly, over many years. Symptoms usually aggravate with time and become life threating. The patient may suffer from Build-up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and legs (edema) Vomiting blood due to rupture of veins in the food pipe or stomach Deliriousness or confusion (Hepatic Encephalopathy) Coma Kidney failure Liver cancer

Your doctor can diagnose whether you have any alcohol-related disease based on your medical history, physical examination, blood tests and radiological investigations such as Ultrasound or CT scan. If required, you may need to undergo a liver biopsy. This will help your doctor to understand the extent of damage caused to your liver. During the biopsy, a small portion of the liver tissue will be removed with the help of a needle and tested in the laboratory. Remember, it is possible that a patient can suffer from multiple liver problems like Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infection at the same time.

If the liver gets irreparably damaged and cannot be managed medically anymore, your doctor might recommend a liver transplant, depending on your health condition.

The first thing we do is to assess the patient as a team to determine whether transplant is the best way forward. Secondly his or her medical fitness for the transplant is assessed. Our team comprises hepato pancreato biliary/ multi organ transplant surgeons, hepatologists, transplant anaesthesiologists, liver anaesthesiologists, Intensivits, critical care experts, diagnostic radiologists, interventional radiologists, infectious diseases/ infection control physicians, psychiatrists and clinical psychologists supported by transplant coordinators, substance dependency experts to help those with a history of alcohol/drug use and social workers. All medical records are reviewed carefully, and a comprehensive pre-transplant diagnostic and pathological investigations are done to understand the extent of liver damage, ascertain blood, heart and lung health and check for any other major infections or diseases. If everything is acceptable, then we register the patient for liver transplant, according to blood type, body size, medical condition and a priority score based on three simple blood tests known as MELD (model of end-stage liver disease) in adults and PELD (paediatric end-stage liver disease) in children. Patients with the highest scores are transplanted first.

Liver transplant, put simply, is the process of replacing the diseased liver with a donated, healthy liver An extremely advanced procedure, it banks heavily on the expertise and experience of the transplant team and of course, high-end medical technology, transplant team and of course, high-end medical technology. There are two types of liver transplant: living donor transplant and cadaveric donor (deceased donor) transplant. When a healthy person donates part of his or her liver for transplantation, it is called living donor transplant. Living donor liver transplant has its advantages. If someone, preferably a family member is willing to donate part of their liver and the blood type matches, there is no need to wait. The liver regenerates itself and will grow to its normal size in both the donor and the recipient in 6-8 weeks. In case there is no live donor available, then one has to wait for cadaveric organ transplant (the liver of a donor who is brain-dead)..In some cases, one donor liver can be transplanted in two people. This is called Split Liver Transplantation. Worldwide, the success rate of liver transplant- both live and cadaveric - is quite high. Patients undergoing liver transplantation can expect a success rate of over 90%. We also perform pancreas transplant , which in most cases, is carried out simultaneously with a kidney transplant.

Like every advanced surgery, liver transplant too can have possible complications in some cases. ​ Your body’s immune system is programmed to destroy foreign substances that invade your body. This means your immune system may attempt to attack your new liver. This is called rejection and is see in more 30% liver-transplant patients within the first year of transplant. The doctors will give you anti-rejection medications to counter the immune attack.

Post-surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 weeks, so that we ensure you recover well. However, it is different for different people, as some might need more time to recover from post-surgery complications. Our doctors will always take time out to listen to you and to take good care of you, supported by our award winning team of CLS/BLS/ATLS/PALS certified nurses. In order to ensure your smooth recovery even after you get back home, our nurses and transplant coordinator will prepare well in advance prior to discharge. What you should do and what not will be explained to you in detail, along with your new medications that will help you overcome possible post-surgery complications. You will need to take these medications all your life. Our medical team will also tell you how to keep a watch on signs of rejection and infection and when you should seek immediate medical help.

It is very important to follow-up as advised after the surgery. You should do every single health check-up as prescribed without fail. You will become a participant in your own healthcare, and we will do everything possible to ensure you remain safe and healthy.

Kidneys are your body’s filters. They purify blood several times a day, maintain your body’s fluid and electrolyte balance and produce urine. So when the kidneys fail to function, your body starts getting poisoned. Each of your kidneys comprises a million microscopic filtering units called nephron. The most dangerous fact about kidney or renal failure is that one might not know about it till 90% of the function is lost. The symptoms of kidney or renal damage include symptoms like swollen ankles, vomiting, weakness, poor sleep, and shortness of breath. If not addressed medically, the kidneys will eventually become dysfunctional – a condition that’s life threatening.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs when your kidneys have been malfunctioning for more than 3 months. It’s an irreparable, life threatening condition and there might be no visible symptoms at all. Diabetes (types 1 and 2), high blood pressure, immune system diseases such as Lupus and chronic viral illnesses like AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can also cause kidney failure. The other reasons for kidney failure include: Multiple episodes of urinary tract infection Post-strep infection Polycystic kidney disease Inherited kidney diseases Congenital or birth defects - In many cases, the defect is rectified while the baby is still in mother’s womb; whereas those with major complications can only be managed at a later stage. Drugs and toxins, including long-term use medications like NSAIDs (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs Long-term exposure to certain chemicals