Liver transplantation is a life-saving surgical procedure in which a diseased or failing liver is replaced with a healthy liver from a donor. It is typically performed for patients with end-stage liver disease, acute liver failure, or certain types of liver cancer. Common causes leading to the need for a transplant include cirrhosis from chronic hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B or C), alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune liver diseases, and genetic conditions like Wilson’s disease.

Liver transplants use either a deceased donor liver or a portion of a liver from a living donor. Since the liver can regenerate, living donor transplants involve removing part of the donor’s liver, which grows back to normal size in both the donor and recipient over time. The surgical procedure is complex, requiring skilled teams to remove the damaged liver and attach the donor liver to the recipient’s blood vessels and bile ducts.

Recipients must undergo thorough medical evaluations to ensure they are suitable candidates for transplantation. Post-transplant, patients take immunosuppressive medications to prevent organ rejection, along with regular monitoring to manage complications and ensure proper liver function.