Problems After Liver Transplant

The risk of experiencing complications after any surgical procedure is understandable. Most of these complications and problems are minor. But there are some which can grow on to be life-threatening, for which having an immediate treatment would be imperative.

These complications can be due to the surgery itself or the anaesthesia (local or general) administered before it. Most of the problems after a liver transplant are already known, so the doctors tend to inform you about them before you sign up for the surgery. After the procedure, the doctors and support staff closely monitor your condition in the hospital to check any problems. Even after your discharge from the hospital and go home, they will check up on you regularly to ensure a smooth recovery.

Some of the complications people usually tend to feel after a liver transplant are,

Infection in your chest wound
Urine infection
Blood clots

A few possible problems after liver transplant include,

Kidney problems

Having kidney problems after the transplant is quite rare. One of the most complicated issues concerning your kidneys is that they might stop working properly. Although you will recover from this issue over time, there is a good chance that dialysis might be required for a few weeks.

Blood Supply Problems

There is a chance that the surgery results in a clot, blocking the blood supply to the new liver. It will hinder the functioning of the liver. In this case, you will either require another surgery to remove the blockage or take some prescribed blood-thinning medications.

Infection

To ensure that your body doesn’t reject the newly transplanted liver, the doctor might prescribe certain immunosuppressant drugs. Due to these drugs, your immune system may stop fighting, making you vulnerable to having infections. In the first few months of your transplant, you will be highly vulnerable to contracting an infection.

That’s why you might want to stay away from anyone suffering from an infection, even as small as a cold. The doctor will also provide you with the necessary information about the food you might want to avoid. Although the drugs to stop the rejection of the liver will be decreased after a few months and eventually stopped, you will still be more at risk for contracting infections than before.

Anxiety and depression

Having depression and anxiety is one of the most commonly faced problems after a liver transplant. It is a problem that most transplant patients exhibit for a few months after the procedure. According to the experts, there are several issues due to which patients tend to have anxiety and depression. A few of these issues are inadequate personal control, side effects of immunosuppressant drugs, insufficient disclosure about the procedure and other personal problems. It would be best if the patient either talked to the doctor (to check if it is because of a side effect of medications) or have a session with a psychologist to diagnose the issue and get through the difficult time after the transplant.

Bleeding

One of the most common problems after a liver transplant is bleeding, which you might experience for around 48 hours after the procedure. The primary reason behind the bleeding is that the clotting is a function controlled by your liver, and it might take some time for it to work smoothly. The liver is kept at extremely low temperatures during the transportation from the donor to the hospital for transplantation. So after the surgery, it takes a while for it to warm up and work properly. The doctor might perform a blood transfusion or further surgery. But this isn’t the case for most patients.

Leakage of bile

Bile juice is a fluid secreted by the liver in the digestion process to break down your food. It is stored in the gallbladder and is carried by small tubes called bile ducts. These tubes connect your small bowel to your gallbladder and liver. During the liver transplant procedure, the doctor removes your gallbladder. So one of the problems after a liver transplant is the bile leaking from between the bile ducts. The doctor might conduct an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or ERCP for a proper diagnosis of the issue. In some instances, surgery might be imperative.

Liver Rejection

Another one of the problems you can have after a liver transplant is your body rejecting the newly transplanted liver. The two types of liver rejections are acute or immediate and chronic or persisting.

Acute rejection: There might be an acute rejection within the first couple of weeks after your liver transplant. It might happen a few months after the transplant as well. The function of your immune system is to recognise any foreign bodies like bacteria and viruses and defend your body against them to prevent any infections. But after the transplant, your immune system recognises the new liver as a foreign entity and tries to fight it off.

The doctor will prescribe you an anti-rejection course (usually consisting of immunosuppressants) that might go for life. But the downside of this course is that it weakens your immune system (to prevent it from attacking the liver), making you more prone to contracting an infection. The doctor will provide you with after-care instructions when you go home. Consult with your doctor if you experience any rejection symptoms like tummy aches and swelling, a high body temperature, symptoms of jaundice and any other flu-like signs.

Chronic rejection: It is one of the rarer problems after having a liver transplant, which happens due to malfunctioning of bile ducts and liver tissues. You might experience it around the year. According to the experts, if you have had an acute rejection and are not responding well to its treatment, you will be more at risk for chronic rejection. Although it can be treated with the help of medications, a second liver transplant might be necessary in certain cases. The symptoms of chronic rejection are similar to those of acute. Also, the liver function tests might show abnormality if there is no symptom.

If you want to find out more about liver transplants and the complications related to them, you might want to consider consulting with the experts at Ujala Cygnus Hospital. So book your appointment today!