Liver Transplant Surgeon

About Liver Transplant Surgeon

Liver transplant surgeon is a doctor specialized in performing surgery to remove a diseased liver and replace it with a healthy one. Liver is the largest internal organ that performs several critical functions like processing nutrients, hormones and medications, and producing bile just to name a few. Liver transplant surgeons opt, recommend and perform liver transplant procedure on patients who have significant complications due to end-stage chronic liver disease. It is also an option in the rare cases of sudden liver failure of a previously healthy liver.

When should you visit a Liver Transplant Surgeon?

Your physician will recommend you to visit a liver transplant surgeon if he suspects or finds out any of the following conditions:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Fluid retention
• Encephalopathy
• Jaundice that the patient is not able to recover from

Who are not the candidates for a Liver Transplant?

Not all the patients with liver cirrhosis and decompensated liver disease are appropriate candidates for liver transplantation. The patient should be able to survive the operation for the transplant procedure, post-operative medication, any potential complications or infections and should not engage in any activity that would injure the liver.

Some of conditions that are in complete contra- indication to liver transplant are as follows:

• Severe pulmonary hypertension
• Cancer spreading outside of the liver
• Systemic or uncontrollable infection
• Active substance abuse
• Unacceptable risk for substance abuse
• Severe, uncontrolled psychiatric disease
• History of non-compliance or inability to adhere to a strict medical regimen
• Severe, irreversible medical illness that limits short-term life expectancy

Procedures Performed

Before deciding and proceeding for the liver transplant surgery, there are a number of tests that are performed to ensure the right course of treatment:

• X-rays
• Liver biopsy slides
• Operative reports
• Computed tomography (CAT or CT scan)
• Doppler ultrasound
• Echocardiogram and stress testing
• Pulmonary function studies
• Blood tests