More than 9 out of every 10 people are still alive after 1 year, around 8 in every 10 people live at least 5 years, and many people live for up to 20 years or more. The long-term outlook for a liver transplant is generally good. You'll need regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and you'll be given immunosuppressant medication that helps to stop your body rejecting your new liver. Recovering from a liver transplant can take a long time, but most people will gradually return to many of their normal activities within a few months. Your symptoms should improve soon after the transplant, but most people will need to stay in hospital for up to 2 weeks. You should also keep the transplant centre informed about any changes in your circumstances, such as changes in your health, address or contact details. While you're on the waiting list, you will need to keep yourself as healthy as possible and be prepared for the transplant centre to contact you at any moment, day or night. The average waiting time for a liver transplant is 145 days for adults and 72 days for children. There are more people in need of a liver transplant than there are donated livers, which means there is a waiting list. Most liver transplants are carried out using livers from deceased donors.
it is expected that you have at least a 50% chance of surviving for at least 5 years after the transplant with an acceptable quality of life.without a liver transplant, it is highly likely that your expected lifespan would be shorter than normal, or your quality of life is so poor as to be intolerable.
Under UK regulations, you are usually only considered a suitable candidate if you meet 2 conditions: There is a strict assessment process that decides who can have a liver transplant, as donated livers are scarce. The only hope for the long-term survival of a person with liver failure is a liver transplant because – unlike the kidney, heart or lungs – there is no device (such as a dialysis machine) that can permanently replicate the functions of the liver. primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) – a condition that causes long-lasting inflammation of the liverĪ liver transplant may also sometimes be recommended as a treatment for liver cancer.primary biliary cholangitis (often referred to as primary biliary cirrhosis) – a poorly understood condition that causes progressive liver damage.hepatitis – blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, that can sometimes cause extensive liver damage.alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) – where the liver becomes scarred because of years of persistent alcohol misuse.Some of the main causes of liver damage and cirrhosis in the UK are: Liver failure can also occur very rapidly as a result of inflammation and death of liver tissue (necrosis). This damage causes the liver to become scarred, which is known as cirrhosis. The liver can become gradually damaged as a result of illness, infection or alcohol. It's usually recommended when the liver has been damaged to the point that it cannot perform its normal functions. This is known as liver failure or end-stage liver disease. A liver transplant is an operation to remove a diseased or damaged liver and replace it with a healthy one.