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Liver transplant is a process in which the diseased liver is removed from the patient and then planting a whole liver from deceased donor or part liver from a living donor.
So, before you proceed for liver transplant let’s have a cost analysis for liver transplant.
Obviously, when a person suffers from an advanced liver disease, he/she requires an organ transplant as the only option. In such cases you would need to weigh the costs so that you are prepared for the expenses moreover you have sufficient time to gather funds.
The cost of liver transplant ranges from 20-25 lakhs. The cost involves pre-hospitalization charges, operation charges, stay in hospital and post-hospitalization expenses. This cost is for those who live in the city. For those who are from other cities, they need to evaluate the cost of stay for the patients as well as the attendants. This should also include the transport costs. Suppose you want to get treatment from the best gastroenterologists in Kochi but stay at a place from where regular commutation is not possible, in such case you would need to consider the price of travelling as well as book a decent stay for the patient and for an attender.
Few factors that affect the cost of live transplantation:
- Medication after transplant
- Expenses for any health complications
- Rehabilitation and recovery cost
- Transport Charges and organ recovery
- Cost for using hospital infrastructure and technology
Few families also opt to find a house for short term lease near the hospital to avoid the travelling expenses.
What is the procedure of liver transplant?
The liver is taken from either a deceased person or a living donor.
In the case of the deceased, any young person who has suffered an accident and is brain dead is suitable for donating liver. The blood supply is maintained to the liver artificially until it is transplanted in the patient’s body.
In case of a living donor, a part of the liver is cut and transplanted to the recipient. A healthy donor can regenerate liver within 6 to 8 weeks. This is why a healthy liver is always a better option as the patient can easily recover and get back to its normal life.
There is a third type of liver transplant that is split donation transplant where liver from a deceased person is taken and split into pieces and transplanted in two different patients.
Who is a healthy living donor?
- Spouse or any close relative
- Someone with a compatible blood type
- Is healthy and in an overall good health
- Body mass index is normal
- The person needs to be above 18 years of age and younger than 55 years.
- Rh factor need not be the same but the blood group should be the same.
What are the risks involved during the process of liver transplant
Like any other operation, the biggest risk involved with liver transplantation is infection and the rejection from the body. The body rejects the new liver considering it to be an unwanted intruder, same as the immune system of the body fights with any other virus.
How long does a donor take to recover after donating liver?
You can consult the doctor or the hospital to understand the process of liver donation and whether your body is fit to donate liver. Suppose you live near Kochi you can consult a gastroenterologist in Kochi to know if you are healthy enough to donate liver. Mostly you would require to stay in hospital for a brief period of 10 days, while few resume their normal activities within 3 months, some may take a little longer time. The liver regrows to its normal size within 6-8 weeks.
What is the life expectancy of a patient after liver transplantation?
Patients live a normal life for even 30 years after liver transplantation. Advances in surgery have increased the success rate of liver implantation from 85-90 percent. For those around Kochi, you can check with the best gastroenterologist in Kochi to diagnose any problems related to the liver.
If you are in and around Kochi you should choose the best gastroenterologist in Kochi to treat your liver issues if at all transplantation is required. You can also consult the same doctor in case a family member or relative is willing to donate liver. There are times when medications can resolve the issue and you may not require a liver transplant. In such cases consulting the best gastroenterologist can help.
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