What is Deceased donor liver transplant?
A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a failing liver and the replacement of it with a healthy liver from a deceased donor or a piece of a healthy liver from a living donor.
The liver is your largest internal organ and is responsible for a number of important tasks, including:
- Nutrients, medicines, and hormones are all processed.
- Producing bile, which aids in the absorption of fats, cholesterol, and fat-soluble vitamins by the body
- Creating proteins that aid in blood clotting
- Getting rid of bacteria and poisons in the blood
- Infection prevention and immune response regulation
A liver transplant is normally reserved for those who are suffering from severe consequences as a result of end-stage chronic liver disease. In rare circumstances of unexpected failure of a previously healthy liver, a liver transplant may be an option.
The number of people on the waiting list for a liver transplant far outnumbers the number of deceased-donor livers available.
An alternative to waiting for a deceased-donor liver to become available is a living-donor liver transplant. Because the human liver regenerates and recovers to its usual size following surgical excision of a portion of the organ, living-donor liver transplants are possible.
