Complications After Liver Transplant

Liver transplant has been advanced as an operative procedure to substitute the damaged liver of the patient with a matching liver from a donor, but it still carries a high risk of complications and side-effects. The following are some of these complications which can be experienced by the patient who underwent a liver transplant.

§  Ascites and Fluid Retention

If the patient has a medical history of ascites and edema or they are malnourished, their chances of experiencing ascites and fluid retention increases after the liver transplantation. Diuretic therapy is a common solution to this complication.

§  Biliary Stenosis

Due to improper dealing of anastomotic technique, the condition of biliary stenosis can develop in most of the cases. Biliary stenosis is manifested through cholangitis or persistent abnormal LFT results. There are certain operative procedures to facilitate the free flow by unblocking the blood vessel.

§  Bleeding

As per an expert from a renowned institution of liver transplant in Delhi, the risk of postoperative bleeding is in the range of 7% to 15% of patients and it is proved by a trustful resource. The post-operative bleeding can lead to major blood loss which can degrade the health of the patient to severe levels.

§  Hepatic artery stenosis and thrombosis

Usually experienced in the early stages following a liver transplant, hepatic artery stenosis and thrombosis can actually result into acute massive hepatocyte necrosis, the formation of a central biloma secondary to intrahepatic duct necrosis, multiple biliary structures, or intermittent bacteremia.

§  Hepatic Outflow Obstruction

Due to the risk of morbidity and mortality linked with hepatic outflow obstruction, transplantation is commonly suggested to keep the patient safe from life-threatening complications after liver transplantation.

§  Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and/or antiviral agents are provided to save the patient from the risk of Hepatitis B. To prevent reinfection. This integrated use of medications has decreased the risk of Hepatitis B to 10% or even less during the first 2 years post-liver transplantation.

§  Hepatitis C

Various factors can amount to reinfection of Hepatitis C after liver transplantation, including the age and gender of both the donor and recipient age, the presence of genotype 1, the level of viremia at the time of transplantation, the use of strong antilymphocyte induction therapy, and high doses of corticosteroids. Post five years of the liver transplantation, the risk is less when compared with the first year following liver transplantation.

§  Infection

It is reported that infection after the liver transplant is a common and serious complication. Immunosuppressants drugs are provided to the patient to limit their immune system to react to the foreign liver from the donor. Also, it is advised by experts of the liver transplant in India to strictly follow the rehabilitation program and limit the exposure to infectious agents.

§  Metabolic Imbalance

Metabolic imbalance after liver transplant is usually of the four types, viz. Hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, hyperglycemia, and hypomagnesemia, explains a liver surgeon from a top-class liver hospital. For Hypokalemia, supervising the serum potassium level on a regular basis and supplementation is recommended. For dealing with hyperkalemia, doctors focus on the dietary changes in the rehabilitation program. Controlling the CNIs and corticosteroids are helpful to help the patient against the development of hyperglycemia, diabetic patients are specially looked after. Keeping a check on the serum magnesium level and supplementation is provided for dealing with hypomagnesemia.

§  Primary Non Function

The best bariatric surgeon in Delhi states the risk of primary nonfunction to be in the range of 4% and 6% following OLT, which has been made possible by the improved methodology of the operation and post-operative care. If a patient develops primary nonfunction, they showcase post-transplantation encephalopathy, coagulopathy, minimal bile output, progressive renal and multisystem failure, increasing serum lactate, and increasing liver enzyme levels.

§  Portal Vein Stenosis and Thrombosis

If severe portal vein stenosis and thrombosis diagnosed after liver transplant, doctors prefer treating the condition or else it could lead to complete thrombosis of the vein or severe graft dysfunction and hemodynamic instability secondary to massive ascites.