Liver Transplant Success Rate in India

Many patients wonder if a liver transplant is a possible solution when their liver is damaged and can't be cured with medications.

The short answer is yes, a liver transplant is possible. It involves surgically removing the diseased or failed liver and replacing it with a healthy one. The liver donor can come from either a living or deceased person.

A living donor liver transplant is an alternative to a deceased donor liver transplant. It is possible because the liver regenerates itself soon after a portion of it is removed.

The chances of surviving a liver transplant are pretty high. The types of liver transplants are:

1. Living donor liver transplantation: The procedure replaces a diseased or damaged liver with a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor. 
2. Deceased donor liver transplantation: It is also known as cadaver liver transplantation. It involves removing a healthy liver from a recently deceased person and transplanting it into a patient with a damaged liver. 

A liver transplant is a promising treatment for increasing your years of survival after a liver failure. The liver transplant success rate is almost 95% in India, i.e., out of 100 liver transplants performed, 95 patients recover successfully and live a healthy life. Generally, people return to their normal life within 3-6 months of surgery. 

The survival rate of liver transplant patients is 86% after one year and 78% after three years of treatment. Moreover, the long-term success rate of the procedure is also very high. You can expect a 65-70% chance of survival post 15-20 years of the transplant. 

However, no surgical procedure is immune to risks. This procedure has a 3-5% risk to life. Generally, patients who receive a liver from a living donor have better short-term survival rates than the ones who receive a liver from a deceased donor.

Before the procedure, a doctor would examine all the possibilities for making it a success. There are several modifiable and non-modifiable factors that can affect the liver transplant success rate in India. 

Modifiable factors affecting the success rate of liver transplant

Several modifiable factors can affect the success rate of liver transplantation:

1. Patient selection: The overall health and suitability of the patient for the procedure can impact the success rate of liver transplantation. Individuals with severe medical conditions or complications may not be suitable candidates for liver transplantation.
2. Post-transplant care: The quality of post-transplant care, including medications and monitoring to prevent rejection and infection, can affect the success rate of liver transplantation.
3. Adherence to medical recommendations: Adhering to medical recommendations, such as taking prescribed medications as directed and attending follow-up appointments, can help improve the success rate of liver transplantation.
4. Lifestyle factors: Lifestyle factors, such as avoiding alcohol and practising good hygiene, can also impact the success rate of liver transplantation.

Non-modifiable factors affecting the success rate of liver transplant

Several non-modifiable factors can affect the success rate of liver transplantation:

1. Donor availability: A suitable donor liver can impact the success rate of liver transplantation. The shortage of a donor's liver can lead to longer waiting times for liver transplantation and may reduce the chances of a successful transplant. In the case of a living donor transplant, all the parameters, like the same blood group, HLA and DNA match, are required.
2. Age: The patient's age can have an impact on the success rate of the liver transplant procedure. Older patients may be more at risk for complications and have a lower success rate than younger patients.
3. Underlying medical conditions: Certain underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, can increase the risk of complications and may affect the success rate of liver transplantation.
4. Cause of liver failure: The underlying cause of liver failure can also impact the success rate of liver transplantation. For example, individuals with liver failure caused by viral hepatitis may have a higher success rate than those with liver failure caused by other conditions.

The rejection rate can vary depending on the individual and the specific circumstances of the transplant. There could be various risks and complications after liver transplant that can be reduced with proper measures. Rejection happens when your immune system considers the new liver a foreign object and starts attacking it.

It occurs in 25 to 50% of all liver transplant patients, with the risk highest in the first six months after transplantation (acute rejection). Rejection after six months (chronic rejection) occurs in 5% or less of all liver transplant recipients.

Even though the rejection rates are higher in the first six months, it can be dealt with if a proper regime is followed. Here are some tips to help prevent the rejection of a liver transplant in India:

1. Take prescribed medications as directed: It is vital to take immunosuppressant medicines to help prevent rejection.
2. Attend follow-up appointments: Regular check-ups and blood tests can help detect rejection early and allow for timely treatment.
3. Communicate with your doctors: If you have any concerns or experience any unusual symptoms, you must communicate with your healthcare team as soon as possible.
4. Practice good hygiene: Washing your hands frequently and avoiding close contact with sick individuals are a few good hygiene practices that can help prevent infections that can increase the risk of rejection.
5. Follow a healthy lifestyle: Eating a healthy and nutritious diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of rejection.
6. Avoid alcohol: Consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of rejection and should be avoided.

The early liver transplant success rate is higher, which can increase the person's survival rate. However, there could be several risks associated with delayed liver transplant surgery:

1. Progression of liver disease: Delayed liver transplantation can allow time for the underlying liver disease to progress, leading to more severe symptoms and complications.
2. Increased risk of complications: The chances of infections, bleeding, and organ failure are high if the problem is not mitigated on time.
3. Increased risk of death: Individuals with severe liver disease can be life-threatening. 
4. Decreased success rate: The chances of liver transplant success rate may decrease as the underlying liver disease progresses.

Patients with successful liver transplants can lead healthy lives. The younger the patient, the faster their recovery. Children can return to school and participate in everyday activities within two months of the procedure. While younger people may be able to return to work and normal life within six to eight weeks, older people may need a month or more. 

The recovery rate after a liver transplant also depends on your health and condition before the surgery. If you were severely ill or nutritionally deficient before the surgery, recovery might take four weeks longer. Moreover, liver transplant recipients require lifetime medications and monitoring to avoid the risk of infections and rejections. 

Today, more than 1800 liver transplants are performed in India annually, making India one of the top preferred countries for liver transplant procedures due to the following reasons:

1. The cost of liver transplants is much more affordable in India than in other countries.
2. You can choose from a wide range of hospitals and surgeons to accommodate your requirements and budget. 
3. Technologies used for liver transplants are highly advanced.
4. The surgeons in India have the required expertise and experience for the treatment with a high success rate for liver transplant surgery. 

At HexaHealth, we aim to offer the best liver transplant surgery options in India at affordable costs. You can contact us to know more about the procedure, cost, side effects, hospital stay, financing options, and post-surgery recovery. Our expert doctors will work with you throughout your surgical journey and help you find the best liver transplant hospital in India. 

Suggested Reads

For more information on liver transplant surgery, you can visit the links below:

1. Paediatric Liver Transplant
2. Liver Transplant in Adults
3. Types of Liver Transplant
4. Liver Transplant Criteria
5. Who can Donate Liver for Transplant?
6. Liver Transplant Rejection
7. Best Liver Transplant Surgeon in India
8. Best Health Insurance Policy for Liver Transplant in India
9. Funding for Liver Transplant in India