About Liver Transplant

Liver transplant is the replacement of a diseased liver with a partial or complete healthy liver from another donor. There are two ways to have a liver transplant:

Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation

This kind of transplantation can be performed upon the granting of authority by the family of someone who has suffered brain death as the result of a traffic incident, brain hemorrhage, brain tumor or heart attack, that their organs may be donated to another person. Necessary checks will be made to ensure that the donor organs do not carry any infection diseases, cancer or liver disease. If suitable then the liver is removed and stored in a special liquid and transplanted within 24 hours.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation

This kind of transplant is a surgical method in which part of a healthy liver from a living donor is transplanted to the patient who requires a new liver. The voluntary donor has to be the parent, sibling, spouse or any relative up to the 4th degree of consanguinity, according to the Turkish Law. All tests carried out on the potential donor must establish that there are no obligations to the person donating part of their liver. These tests are carried out in two parts:

  1. Tests are made to establish that the potential donor is in a good health condition to undergo the operation. These tests generally focus on all the main organs of the body like the heart, lungs and digestive system.
  2. The examination of the liver. These tests involve taking a map of the liver with all of its features, veins, arteries and bile ducts. If all these tests are affirmative, then the person can become a donor.

Before Liver Transplantation

  • When patients arrive to the hospital certain tests will be carried out including:
  1. General check-up
  2. Blood and Urine Test
  3. Chest X-ray
  4. Electrocardiogram
  • Patients will be required to clean the entire body using antiseptic soap and the incision area will be shaved
  • Patients will sign a consent form
  • Patients must attend to the hospital on an empty stomach
  • Patients must avoid smoking and alcohol a week before the transplant
  • Patients and the donor will need to attend a committee to be approved for the transplant
  • Patients must prove to the committee that the donor is related within the 4th generation

Liver Transplantation Procedure

Liver transplant is a challenging operation that takes an average of 6 to 12 hours to perform. The entire liver is removed from the patient and replaced with a healthy liver. The operation can lead to heavy bleeding and requires a team of transplant surgeons, surgical assistants, nurses and anesthesiologists. The patient’s liver is dissected from the four main blood vessels.

The bile duct that connects the liver to the intestines must be detached from the intestines.  The new liver is then placed and the operation is completed with the reconnection of the bile duct with the main blood vessels. Living donor liver transplants have started to be performedover the past decade and the procedure has been significantly developed by then. In this type of transplantation, the two teams who remove and replace the liver generally work in tandem. The part of the donor’s liver that is removed is inserted in place of the patient’s liver, taking care to protect the recipient’s main abdominal vein (vena cava). This is a much more difficult operation than cadaveric transplantation, and it requires a larger medical team.  In addition, micro surgeons are needed to stitch the miniscule artery, and specialist radiologists perform ultrasound examinations that are carried out throughout the operation. The operation to remove the liver from the living donor takes 6‐8 hours, the recipient operation 8‐12 hours. Even during the operation, the procedure may have to be cancelled or postponed in the event that the donor organ turns out not to be compatible.

Suitable Patients for a Liver Transplantation

  • The recipient of the transplant is at a good health condition and despite their associated condition
  • The associated condition is not responding to other types of treatment
  • There is a high risk of the condition re-occurring without a transplant

Donor:

  • The donor must be at a good health condition
  • Have a blood type that matches or is compatible with the recipient
  • The donor must be between 18-60 years old

The donor must have a charitable desire of donation without a financial motivation

After Liver Transplantation

  • Patient will be taken to the intensive care unit and get connected to a respirator. If everything goes well, it would be withdrawn within 12-24 hours.
  • Abdominal drains are designed to drain fluid from around the liver and will be removed once the patient is dismissed.
  • Patients can be required to stay for 2 weeks in the transplant unit before being dismissed.
  • Patients will undergo intensive physical and mental rehabilitation
  • Patients will be under observation for signs of organ rejection including – high fever, pain, jaundice, fluid retention, medication side effects and elevated liver tests.
  • Patients will need to attend check-ups once dismissed from the hospital once a week.
  • The wound must be kept clean using antiseptic soap
  • Dental and oral hygiene is very important, after each meal teeth must be brushed and gargled with antiseptic mouthwash.
  • Body hygiene must be kept at a high standard

Risks of Liver Transplant

It is pretty usual for complications to occur after transplant during the first couple of weeks after the operation like

  • Rejection
  • Infection
  • Abnormal liver functions
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Neurological complications

First day of Liver Transplant

The patients will attend a consultation with the doctor and will be advised about the procedure and their condition. Patients and the donor will need to undergo a couple of tests which are required to ensure that the patient and donor is at a suitable health condition for a transplant. Once all tests are done and the results are suitable for the transplantation process, the patient will be placed in a private room until the transplantation day.

Second day of Liver Transplant

Last tests will be done and if everything is suitable the transplant will be performed, using general or local anesthesia depending on the type of the surgery. The transplantation will take around 6 – 12 hours to perform, depending on the extent of the surgery the duration can expand. Once the surgery is over, the patient will be taken to a private room where they will be staying in hospital for resting. This can last for a few weeks until the transplant is adapted to the patient’s body. The donor will need to stay in hospital for a few days to make sure they are feeling well and healthy before dismissed if live donor is used.

Third – Fortieth day of Liver Transplant

Patients will be resting in their rooms, with the doctors and nurses checking up on them regularly.

Fortieth day of Liver Transplant

Patients will be resting in their room and the doctor will perform a checkup and may perform a few tests and if they are approved to be in a good, healthy condition and the surgery results are all successful; the patients are advised with post treatment care requirements and are ready to be discharged from hospital to their settlements. The patient will be advised on their medication and their dressing routine. Once discharged from hospital the patient must rest and attend checkups arranged by the doctor.

Second Month of Liver Transplantation

The patient will be advised on further medication, a few little tests may be performed and if everything is right, then the patient is ready to return to their destination.

Notes

• Trip schedule may vary. medicTurkey patient relations will provide you a detailed trip schedule before the travel.

• For details on accommodation, transportation and other services, please check the SERVICES page.

What is Liver Transplantation?

Liver transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with a partial or complete healthy liver from another person who is called a donor.

There are two ways to have a liver transplantation:

Deceased Donor Liver Transplantation

This kind of transplantation can be performed upon the granting of authority by the family of someone who has suffered brain death as the result of a traffic incident, brain hemorrhage, brain tumor or heart attack, that their organs may be donated to another person. Necessary checks will be made to ensure that the donor organs do not carry any infection diseases, cancer or liver disease. If suitable then the liver is removed and stored in a special liquid and transplanted within 24 hours.

Living Donor Liver Transplantation

This kind of transplantation is a surgical method in which part of a healthy liver from a living donor is transplanted to the patient who requires a new liver. The voluntary donor has to be the parent, sibling, spouse or any relative up to the 4th degree of consanguinity, according to the Turkish Law. All tests carried out on the potential donor must establish that there are no obligations to the person donating part of their liver

How is Liver Transplantation done?

Liver transplantation is a challenging operation that takes an average of 6 to 12 hours to perform. The entire liver is removed from the patient and replaced with a healthy liver. The operation can lead to heavy bleeding and requires a team of transplant surgeons, surgical assistants, nurses and anesthesiologists. The patient’s liver is dissected from the four main blood vessels.

The bile duct that connects the liver to the intestines must be detached from the intestines.  The new liver is then placed and the operation is completed with the reconnection of the bile duct with the main blood vessels. Living donor liver transplantations have started to be performed over the past decade and the procedure has been significantly developed by then. In this type of transplantation, the two teams who remove and replace the liver generally work in tandem. The part of the donor’s liver that is removed is inserted in place of the patient’s liver, taking care to protect the recipient’s main abdominal vein (vena cava). This is a much more difficult operation than cadaveric transplantation, and it requires a larger medical team.  In addition, micro surgeons are needed to stitch the miniscule artery, and specialist radiologists perform ultrasound examinations that are carried out throughout the operation. The operation to remove the liver from the living donor takes 6‐8 hours, the recipient operation 8‐12 hours. Even during the operation, the procedure may have to be cancelled or postponed in the event that the donor organ turns out not to be compatible.

How long does Liver Transplantation take?

Liver transplantation takes around 6-12 hours to perform. The duration of the surgery can sometimes extend depending on the extent of surgery.

Do I need to stay at hospital?

Patients will need to stay in hospital for a couple of weeks including before and after the transplantation surgery.

Who can have Liver Transplantation?

  • Patients at a good health condition and despite their associated condition
  • The associated condition is not responding to other types of treatment
  • There is a high risk of the condition re occurring without a transplant

When can I return to work?

Patients can return to work a few weeks after the transplantation process.

Are there any risks of Liver Transplantation?

It is pretty usual for complications to occur after transplantation during the first couple of weeks after the operation like

  • Rejection
  • Infection
  • Abnormal liver functions
  • Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Neurological complications

Devices used in Liver Transplant

There are no special devices used in Liver Transplant.

Operation Price Stay in hospital Stay in Turkey
Liver Transplant Please fill in
a form to learn
about the pricing.		 40 Days
(the duration can
change depending on
the treatment performed)		 2 Months