Liver Transplant

Question 1

Indications?

Answer 1

• acute liver failure- most commonly:
  
  • acute viral hepatitis
  • paracetamol overdose
• chronic liver failure

Question 2

Types?

Answer 2

• Orthotopic
• entire liver directly from deceased person
• Living donor transplant
• take a portion of the organ from a living donor, transplant it into a patient and have both regenerate
• Split donation
• split the organ of a deceased person into 2 & transplant into 2 patients

Question 3

unsuitability for liver transplantation?

Answer 3

• significant co-morbidities
• excessive wt loss & malnutrition
• active hep B or C
• end stage HIV
• current alcohol use

Question 4

Mx?

Answer 4

• lifelong immunosuppression w/ steroids, azathioprine and tacrolimus
• required to follow lifestyle advice & monitor for complications

Question 5

complications?

Answer 5

• opportunistic infections as immunocompromised
• cancer
• disease recurrence