Liver transplantation in Thailand 2023: Compare Price & Reviews

What you need to know about:

Liver transplantation

Fast Fact

81%

Worth It Rating

Average Cost:

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Recovery Period:

Over 6 months

Permanence:

Depends on patient condition

177

Doctors

Time it takes:

Up to 8 hours

Hospitals & Clinics

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Anesthetize:

General Anesthesia

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Overview of

Liver transplantation

in Thailand

Liver transplantation is an advanced technique through which an unhealthy or non-functioning liver is replaced by a healthy one. Unlike other organs, it only requires a part of the liver to be replaced in the recipient, and then it grows on its own as liver cells are regenerative. Liver transplantation allows the patient to lead a normal and healthy lifespan without compromising the quality of life. Transplantation is a surgical procedure where the recipient receives a donor organ from a healthy individual.

Goals of

Liver transplantation

The major goal of liver transplantation is to improve quality of life and maximize life expectancy. Usually, it happens when there is an acute or chronic liver disease and the body is unable to function properly. The most prevalent of all causes is cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) which leads to end-stage hepatic failure. It occurs when the normal tissues of the liver are replaced by scar tissues.

Other common causes of liver cirrhosis that may lead to liver transplant are the following:

Hepatitis B and C.
Genetic disorders such as hemochromatosis (abnormal amount of iron accumulation in the liver) or Wilson’s disease (abnormal amount of copper accumulation in the liver).
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (inflammation of liver cells due to accumulation of fat).
Alcoholic liver disease (Excessive alcohol consumption that scars the liver).
Bile duct diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis, biliary atresia (commonest among children), primary sclerosing cholangitis, etc.

Price of

Liver transplantation

Average Cost

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Price Range

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Pros and cons of

Liver transplantation

Pros

longer life expectancy
better quality of life
reduced risk of death due to liver illness
no need for liver dialysis

Cons

Lifetime anti-rejection medications are prescribed as transplanted organs are likely to be rejected by the body. The side effects of those medications include:

thinning of bones
diarrheal infection
headaches
hypertension
high cholesterol
diabetes

Besides this, there is an increased risk of developing infections as these medications suppress the normal immune response. However, the doctor might suggest drugs to overcome these infections.

How it works:

Liver transplantation

There are two possibilities in which you will receive your new liver;

Liver transplantation largely depends upon the donor. The recipient is likely to receive a liver in two ways:

Liver from a dead donor: some individuals ask to donate their liver after their demise; in that case, the priority recipient is asked to visit the hospital immediately for a transplant. A detailed physical examination is conducted by the team to make sure the recipient is fit for the surgery. The liver transplant is typically performed under general anesthesia and the patient is given sedative agents. A long incision is made depending upon the anatomy and surgeon’s preference through the abdomen to approach the liver. The damaged liver is then replaced by a healthy liver in the body. The blood vessels and bile duct are then connected to the replaced liver. After the placement, the surgeon closes the incision with sutures. The surgery generally takes up to 12 hours to complete and the patient is shifted to the intensive care unit afterward.
Liver from a live donor: in this scenario, a part of a liver from a healthy and alive donor is operated out for transplant. The rest of the procedure is pretty much the same. The incision is made, and the unhealthy liver is removed and replaced by the donated liver. Then the surgeon will connect the blood vessels and bile ducts to the replaced liver. As the liver is capable of regeneration, it promptly grows until normal volume and size are reached over a period of several weeks. Unlike the former one, this surgery is planned in advance for both the donor and the recipient.

Preparation before

Liver transplantation

Pre - treatment

A detailed evaluation including physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, ECG, CXR, etc. is carried out before proceeding to the surgery to rule out:

Other medical conditions that may affect transplant results

Immune system disorder
Pregnancy
Blood-thinning drugs
Infections

Recovery after

Liver transplantation

Post - treatment

After the transplant surgery, the patient is shifted to ICU and is likely to stay there for several days.

Continuous hemodynamic monitoring and liver function test are done by the medical team. Any imbalance or complication is immediately reported and treated.

Usually, the hospital stay lasts around 5 to 10 days depending upon the stability and liver functioning.

After the normal liver regeneration is assured, the patient is transferred to the transplant recovery room.

Strict doctor’s follow-ups must be followed once the patient is discharged. Several blood and liver functioning tests are performed during the whole recovery phase.

The anti-rejection and other medications prescribed by the surgeon should not be missed for the rest of the life.

Due to immunosuppressant drugs, the recipient is recommended to be in isolation even after discharge to avoid the risk of infections. The doctor may recommend precautionary drugs to fight infections.

However, these anti-rejection medications may show some side effects including:

Osteoporosis
Diabetes mellitus
Headaches
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia

Overall recovery may take as long as six months. The patient can get back to normal daily living activities once they’re stable and their doctor approves. However, the complete healing process majorly depends upon the health of the recipient.

Risks & side effects

Unlike other surgical procedures, a liver transplant is major surgery and hence carries a significant risk of complications and adverse effects. Some of the commonly encountered risks are as follows:

Hemorrhage
Hematoma
Rejection of donated liver
Failure of donated liver to regenerate
Infection/Sepsis
Epileptic seizures
Cognitive problems
Complications of the bile duct (shrinking, leaking)
Recurrence of chronic liver failure

FAQs:

Liver transplantation

How long do patients who receive liver transplants live for?

A study suggests, that 89% of liver transplant recipients survive one year after surgery whereas 75% of recipients survive 5 years.

Even though the success rates and survival percentage is satisfactory yet the chances of reoccurrence of liver failure in the transplanted liver are never zero. The risk of failure and rejection of donated liver depends upon several factors including age, BMI, overall health condition, the severity of previous disease, cause of failure, and other medical histories of the patient.

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What is the likelihood of success of this procedure?

According to a study conducted in Bumrungrad Hospital in the last 10 years, the one-year survival rate of liver transplant recipients is 97%, five years is 82% and ten years is 67%. The figure, however, differs from that of Canada, the US, and Western Europe.

The likelihood of success highly depends on several factors including age, the overall health status of both the donor and the recipient, lifestyle, post-surgical complications or rejection, infection, and adverse effects.

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What if the procedure is not performed?

The liver is one of the five vital organs of the human body. The liver function is essential for the body to function and lead a healthy life. In the case of end-stage chronic liver failure due to any cause, if the person doesn’t get a liver transplant, the likelihood of illness, shorter life expectancy, and compromised quality of life are high.

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Will my liver disease come back after a transplant?

The incidence of reoccurrence of liver disease after a transplant is noticeable in a few cases. Some liver disorders may reoccur even in the donated liver such as hepatitis C. However, the medical team will monitor any signs of reoccurrence of the disease in follow-up appointments to prevent them.

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Will kinds of medications will I need to be on after my liver transplant?

Post-surgery, during the recovery phase, the recipient will take as many as 7 to 10 different medications. The dose and medications reduce gradually over time. Although this number will drop down to 1 or 2 medicines after 6 months of the procedure, some medications are to be taken lifelong.

Immunosuppressants: drugs that suppress the immune system. When a donated liver is placed in the body, the immune system assumes it as a foreign agent and may attack it. Therefore, immunosuppressants are prescribed to the liver transplant recipient so that the donated liver may regenerate without being attacked by the body’s defense mechanism. This also increases the risk of other infections hence other medications are given to fight them as well.

Irrespective of any health conditions, these medications must be taken by the patient at the proper time with the prescribed dosage. Missing or discontinuing any of them may lead to liver rejection or reoccurrence of liver disease.

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What are the side effects of the medications prescribed after transplant?

Medications involved in post-liver transplants have several noticeable side effects that may include:

High blood pressure leading to hypertension
Behavioral changes
Hair lose/Hair growth
Diabetes mellitus
Osteoporosis/Other musculoskeletal abnormalities
Renal dysfunction
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrheal infection
Headache

These side effects are often experienced during the initial days and later subside on their own. However, even if the side effects persist, no medication should be discontinued or missed without a doctor’s consultation.

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