After a liver transplant, the person usually stays in the hospital for a few weeks to be monitored and observes the body’s reaction to the new organ, thus avoiding any complications that may occur. After this time, the person can go home, however, he must follow certain medical recommendations to promote his quality of life, such as the use of immunosuppressive medications for example.
After transplantation, the person may lead a normal life, being necessary to follow the doctor’s instructions, be regularly monitored for medical visits and examinations, and have healthy lifestyle habits.
- After the transplant.
- The person should be admitted to the hospital for about 1 to 2 weeks to check blood pressure.
- Blood glucose.
- Blood clotting.
- Kidney function and other factors that are important to check if the person is OK and infections can be prevented.
Initially, the person must remain in the ICU, however, once stable, they can enter the room so that they can continue to be monitored. Also in the hospital, the person may perform physiotherapy sessions to improve their breathing ability and reduce the risk of motor complications such as muscle stiffness and shortening, thrombosis and others.
From the moment the person stabilizes, there are no signs of rejection and the tests are considered normal, the doctor may discharge the person whenever they are in treatment at home.
Home treatment should be performed with the use of immunosuppressive remedies indicated by the doctor and acting directly on the immune system, reducing the risk of rejection of the transplanted organ. However, as a result, the risk of developing infections is higher. Therefore, it is important that the dose of the drug is adequate so that the body can act against invasive infectious agents at the same time that organ rejection does not occur.
Some usable medications are prednisone, cyclosporine, azathioprine, globulins and monoclonal antibodies, but the dose varies from person to person, as it depends on a number of factors that should be evaluated by the doctor, such as the disease that led to transplantation, age, weight and other diseases such as heart problems and diabetes.
In addition to using medications, it is recommended that the person have healthy lifestyle habits, avoid alcohol and fatty foods, and perform a light physical activity that should be recommended by the physical education professional.
Symptoms such as body swelling, weight gain, increased amount of hair, especially on a woman’s face, osteoporosis, poor digestion, hair loss and canker sores may occur with the use of immunosuppressants. Thus, it is necessary to observe the symptoms that appear and talk to your doctor to tell you what can be done to control these unpleasant symptoms, without compromising the immunosuppression regimen.
Liver transplantation may be indicated when the organ is severely compromised and stops working, as can occur in cirrhosis, fulminant hepatitis or cancer of this organ, in people of all ages, including children.
There is an indication of transplantation when medications, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy are unable to restore proper functioning. In this case, the patient should continue to perform the treatment proposed by the doctor and perform the necessary tests until the appearance of a compatible liver donor, who is at the ideal weight and without health problems.
Transplantation may be indicated for acute or chronic conditions, which are unlikely to return after a transplant, such as:
Some diseases that may not be eligible for transplantation are hepatitis B because the virus tends to settle in the new liver, in case of cirrhosis caused by alcoholism because if the person continues to drink too much, the new organ will also be damaged. Therefore, your doctor should indicate when the transplant may or may not be performed, depending on the person’s liver disease and the person’s overall health.
To prepare for such procedures, you should maintain a good diet, avoiding foods high in fats and sugars, preferring vegetables, fruits and lean meats. In addition, it is important to inform your doctor of any symptoms present so that you can investigate and initiate appropriate treatment.
When the doctor comes into contact, calling the person for the transplant, the transplant person should stop eating and drinking immediately, remain empty-headed, and go to the designated hospital as soon as possible to perform the procedure.
The person who will receive the donated organ must have an older companion and bring all the necessary documents to be admitted to receive the organ. After surgery, it is normal for the person to remain in intensive care for at least 10 to 14 days.